African drum types

We’ll be stocking up with drums as they become available and African drums will feature strongly. Here we’ll look a bit more closely at some of the different types of African drums, some you may have heard of, so you may not.

African drums are an important part of the continent’s music and cultural traditions, with each type having unique characteristics and uses.

Here are some of the most well-known African drums:

Djembe

Origin: West Africa, particularly Mali, Guinea, Senegal, and Ivory Coast.
Characteristics: Goblet-shaped, typically carved from a single piece of hardwood, with a goat skin head.
Playing Style: Played with bare hands, producing a wide range of tones depending on hand position and technique.
Cultural Significance: Often used in ceremonies, celebrations, and social gatherings.

Talking Drum (Dundun or Tama)

Origin: West Africa, used by the Yoruba, Akan, and other ethnic groups.
Characteristics: Hourglass-shaped with two drumheads connected by leather tension cords.
Playing Style: Played with a curved stick, and pitch can be changed by squeezing the cords.
Cultural Significance: Used to mimic speech patterns and communicate messages over long distances.

Bougarabou

Origin: West Africa, particularly Senegal, Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau.
Characteristics: Conical shape, similar to a djembe but larger, with a cow skin head.
Playing Style: Played with hands, often in sets of two or more.
Cultural Significance: Used in traditional ceremonies and gatherings.

Ngoma

Origin: Central and East Africa, notably among the Bantu-speaking peoples.
Characteristics: Cylindrical or barrel-shaped, often with a wooden body and a cow or goat skin head.
Playing Style: Played with hands or sticks, sometimes tilted to adjust the sound.
Cultural Significance: Used in various rituals, celebrations, and to accompany dances.

Udu

Origin: Nigeria, used by the Igbo people.
Characteristics: Pottery drum with an additional hole, producing a unique, deep, resonant sound.
Playing Style: Played with hands, tapping the sides and covering/uncovering the hole.
Cultural Significance: Traditionally used in ceremonial music and as a water jug.

Kpanlogo

Origin: Ghana, associated with the Ga people.
Characteristics: Barrel-shaped drum with pegs to tune the skin head.
Playing Style: Played with hands and occasionally sticks.
Cultural Significance: Used in Kpanlogo dance and other contemporary and traditional music settings.

Ashiko

Origin: West Africa.
Characteristics: Conical-shaped drum, open at the bottom, with a drumhead made from goat or cow skin.
Playing Style: Played with bare hands.
Cultural Significance: Often used in similar contexts to the djembe, for celebrations and gatherings.

Bata

Origin: Nigeria, used by the Yoruba people.
Characteristics: Double-headed drum with a cylindrical body, comes in various sizes (Iya, Itotele, and Okonkolo).
Playing Style: Played with hands and sometimes sticks, often in sets.
Cultural Significance: Used in religious and ceremonial music, particularly in worship of the deity Shango.

Dunun (Doundoun)

Origin: West Africa, particularly among the Mande people.
Characteristics: Cylindrical drum with cow skin heads on both ends, played horizontally.
Playing Style: Played with sticks, often in sets of three (Kenkeni, Sangban, and Dundunba).
Cultural Significance: Provides the rhythmic foundation in djembe ensembles.

Sabar

Origin: Senegal, used by the Wolof people.
Characteristics: Tall, narrow drum played with one hand and one stick.
Playing Style: Played with a combination of hand and stick strikes.
Cultural Significance: Central to Sabar dance and music, often used in celebrations and ceremonies.

Each of these drums has its unique sound, construction, and cultural importance, reflecting the rich diversity of African musical traditions.

We’ll post up photos of them as we get them in.

Credit: Top image by Freepik