Shekere musical instruments Rattle African music Percussion instruments

The talking drum dates back to 500 AD and was used in large societies as a secret drum through ceremonies, ancestor worship, ceremonies and ballroom dancing. According to the Bambara people of Mali, the African drum takes its name from the saying "Anke djé, anke bé", which means "everyone live in peace", and the name defines the purpose of the drum. In Bambara, "djé" is the verb "to gather" and "bé" means "peace". This drum is believed to contain three spirits. First, the spirit of the tree that made it. Then there is the spirit of the animal who is playing the skin, the spirit of the carver or the man who fell the tree, and the spirit of the man who assembles the drum. Traditionally, only those born into (or interested in) a djembe family can play djembe. This caste sings and performs at ceremonies, baptisms, weddings, and sometimes funerals, and is familiar with the music of their ancestors.

The Shekere or sekere, a percussion instrument from Yoruba, Nigeria, consists of a dried gourd and a net woven of brightly colored beads around the gourd's body, tied in a ponytail at the base of the gourd, on a white background. It is a common instrument on the west coast of Africa, Cuba, Brazil and the Caribbean. Yoruba handicrafts.

Native African Materials Wood, Gourd Chords Introduce African sounds at an affordable price with this wonderful 6-tone xylophone handcrafted in The Gambia. Propelled by the gourd under the wooden keys, not adjusted to Western scale.