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Transcript of african drumming
the history of the Djembe
why did they play these drums
by Tysyn fernandez
when did african drumming start
Drums are wonderful instrument, and they have beautiful sound. In Gambia drums are very important in peoples daily life. We use drums in many different ways, we have drums, which are used for sending massages to the people in town or some time to send massage to the next village, and there are drums for ceremonies like weddings or naming ceremonies and there are also drums for healing people who are sick.
African drumming dates back to more than a thousand years ago. It is quite challenging to state the exact year when African drumming began due to the fact that most of African history is not recorded. However, in the ancient times most African communities used it as a mode of communication.
Where in Africa did african Drumming Originate?
African drumming originated from West Africa in various ethnic groups like the Madinka people from Mali, Ghana and Liberia who had three types of drums. The other tribe was called the Fulla tribe that came from Guinea who used a drum namely, Fulla djembe. Another tribe that originated with African drumming is the Jolla tribe from Senegambia who called their drum Bukarabu and finally, the Wolof tribe from Senegambia too who called their drum Tama.
materials and design of the drums
Materials used to make African instruments include many household or ordinary objects such as shells, to make flutes and horns, animal tusks, gourds to make drums, cornstalks to make wind instruments and even Coke cans, used to create a simple flute by blowing air over the opening. Many drums are made of wood and hides and are decorated with glass beads.
Read more: http://www.ehow.com/list_6564279_characteristics-african-music-instruments.html#ixzz2jn50QZfJ
The look and design of African instruments are as equally important as the sound they make and the function they were created for. Historically, many instruments were created to tell a story not only by sound but by sight as well. Many instruments are carved to resemble common proverbs and stories. They also are decorated to impress listeners and can tell the owner's social status. Many instruments include intricate carvings, bead work and animal skins as decorations.
Read more: http://www.ehow.com/list_6564279_characteristics-african-music-instruments.html#ixzz2jn5w94Ch
characteristics of african drumming
Melodies are usually short and simple. African music uses short bits of melody that are repeated over and over. Singers or instrumentalists may change them at will, so that the performance becomes a theme with many variations. When performing, one person may begin to improvise, or make up a special version of the melody while the other singers continue the original melody. Often, several voices will sing different melodies at the same time. Africans also sing in rounds. The accompaniment may consist of chords or short melodic patterns that are repeated continually.
The talking drum
The talking drum or dundun is an hourglass-shaped drum with a strap, traditionally slung over one shoulder while tucked underneath the other and played with a curved beater. The talking drum is named because of the player's ability to alter its pitch to mimic language tonality or "talk." The Yoruba people, who mainly live in present-day Nigeria, invented the dundun. In ancient times, the talking drum was used for a variety of purposes---from being a musical instrument during celebrations to a sort of telegram for relaying messages during times of war or to announce the arrival of a visitor
Bata is a set of three drums of different sizes played with either a stick or hands. They are characterized by having two heads, with one bigger than the other. Another drum of Yoruba origin, the bata drum is considered the sacred drum of the deity Ana or Oshun, known as the goddess of love. Bata drums play an important role in Cuba, where African slaves introduced them. They are used in religious events as well as in Cuba's genres of music.
Read more: http://www.ehow.com/about_5417214_types-african-drums.html#ixzz2kRs2RT7l
The Ngoma is used throughout central, eastern and southern Africa, with its origins lying among the Buganda people of Uganda. It is played in a group, usually with three drums to produce different tones ranging from deep bass to sharp sounds.
The founding fathers of african drumming
there isn't a founding father for the african drummers but lots of tribes made their own drums so the can celebrate different things and communicate.
The djembe drum is most likely about 400-800 years old, and was created during the Malian Empire by the Mandé people. It spanned the modern-day countries of Senegal, southern Mauritania, Mali, northern Burkina Faso, western Niger, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, the Ivory Coast and northern Ghana. The Mali Empire grew out of an area referred to by its contemporary inhabitants as Mande. Mande, named for its inhabitants the Mandinka (initially Manden’ka with “ka” meaning people of), comprised most of present-day northern Guinea and southern Mali. The empire was originally established as a federation of Mandinka tribes called the Manden Kurufa (literally Manden Federation), but it later became an empire ruling millions of people from nearly every ethnic group in West Africa.