Break Away II

Percussion instruments define African music. It is the common ground for most African activities . During the old times, African music was the way to bring African people together, they often held rituals or other special events. Since participation is important in the community, they would play percussion instruments, the most rhythmic musical instruments they had. Some of the widely used African percussion instruments are described below.

The Djembe Drum

If you find a drum that uses an animal skin covered head, then you have just come across the djembe drum. It is characterized by a thick upper body partnered with a thinner lower body which makes the drum look like a goblet. The body is typically made from an echoing log to create various acoustics. The head is secured over thhe body with the use of ropes although, nowadays, some makers make use of steel hoops, nylon core ropes, and rubbers when tightening and tuning the drum. Djembe is , oftentimes, the main piece of the percussion section. The djemebe drum has varying tones and tunes depending upon the size of the instrument. A drummer would usually strike the head with his fingers or hands to create different tones. The djembe drum is probably one of the most commonly utilised African instruments used in today’s music.

Udu

Loosely translated, “udu” means vessel in the African language and it is usually made of clay. This former drinking vessel produces sound courtesy of its extra hole located in its body. The sound it creates is similar to that created by a glass bottle. To play the Udu you cover the top hole with one hand while the other hand manipulates the other hole. A wide range of varying tones would then be produced.

Slit Drums

Another widely used percussion instrument in Africa is the Slit drum. This kind of drum is usually made up of hollowed wood or carved wood so it can produce a sound. These drums can be made of logs or bamboo. Drums and mallets are, oftentimes, used to strike the drum in order to produce a sound. Just like udu, the slit drum also produces a rainbow of tones.

Double Bells

When two metallic bells are combined in a horseshoe fashion, you get what is known as Double Bells. In order to produce a sound, mallets are used. In the African percussion instruments, double bells are used to mark measures and keep time for the percussion players.

Aside from these four, other percussion instruments commonly used by the Africans hand-shakers, wooden xylophones, and lamellophones (finger pianos). 

The djembe is part of the membranophone family of drums. Typically made from wood it is shaped like a large goblet over which is stretched an animal skin. One of the most popular drums of West Africa, when struck properly it produces a deep bass sound thanks to its shell shaped body.

The origins of the djembe can be traced all the way back to the twelfth century and the Mali Empire and the tribes of either the Susu or Mandika. When the blacksmiths of the Mandinka tribe crossed Africa the djembe, or sanbayi as the Susu call it, went with them and as a result it became widespread. The people of these tribes believe that the instrument contains three spirits, one of the person who makes the djembe, one from the tree from which the wood is taken, and one from the animal whose hide is used for the drum. Nowadays players prefer to have drums with a goatskin hide that they make unique with braided rope and designs carved into the wood.

The word djembe itself is not actually African, it is in fact French. The French colonised parts of Africa and studied the music styles of the people as well as their instruments. As they do not have a hard ‘j’ in their language they chose to use ‘dj’ and it is this spelling that has gained the greatest recognition. There are currently many accepted spellings of the drum including jembe, djimbe and yembe. In the 1950′s and 1960′s the djembe became well known in and around Paris primarily as it was used extensively by the ballet ensemble Les Ballet Africains. From then on the drum has grown in popularity around the world, especially amongst drummers who appreciate its unique sound.

In Africa the diansa, or drum rhythm, is traditionally used in celebrations such as at weddings and baptisms and to commemorate full moons as well as the changing seasons. Some have even suggested that African peoples have used the sound produced by the drum in order to send messages over long distances, making use of the different sounds to communicate different meanings like a type of musical code language.

The djembe is often played alongside other instruments such as bells and dundun drums. In Senegal, the djembe is used by the Wolof tribe as part of the elaborate dances that their women perform. When the instrument is being played the women put on an alluring dance called the Saber meant to attract and entice the men.

There are three basic ways to create sound using a djembe. The first technique is where you create a ‘bass’ note by hitting the middle of the drum with your palm. A ‘tone’ is produced when you hit the rim of the drum with flat fingers and a ‘slap’ is the same action but with your fingers relaxed.

Djembes are now made by specialist drum makers all over the world and are sought after by students, tourists, professional musicians and hobbyists alike. Musically it is hard to resist moving to the driving beats of a well-played djembe, and even novices to drumming enjoy the primal energy of handling a djembe.