History of Three Facinating Traditional African Drums
African music has long been characterized by its use of the drum. As most tribes lived a great distance from each other, the use of drums for communication became necessary quite quickly. While most drum beats originating in africa share similar patterns, primarily rapid and intense beating, several popular styles have unique elements. The most accepted of these are played across three particular drums, the Djembe, the Kpanlogo, and the Sabar. Each of these has their own unique sound and meaning, and is a testament to the musical stylings of the various regions of Africa.
The most popular of the African rhythms are played upon the djembe, a hand drum that was created by the Numu peoples of West Africa, has become relatively popular in Western music. Such notable musicians as Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel, and Ben Harper have all used the djembe’s unique sound in their body of work, and it is featured in the unique performances of Cirque du Soleil. This goblet shaped instrument is a communicative drum, used to bring people together. Its rhythms include bass notes achieved by hitting the center, and tone notes that can be produced by striking the skin near the rim. Spiritually, the djembe is believed to contain three, these being the spirits of its creation. Specifically these would be the tree that gave the wood, the animal who gave the hide, and the one who crafted the drum.
Many other popular types originate from the kpanlogo drum, created in the Greater Accra Region in Ghana, Africa. The Kpanlogo music form sprang up around this particular drum, and is used recreationally for dance. When the Kpanlogo is played, it is usually a time for celebration. Because of this use it quickly became known as a ceremonial drum. The Kpanlogo lead drummer begins a beat and then directs the dancers through choreographed routines. Kpanlogos are often used in tandem to produce a rhythm, with as many as six Kpanlogos playing at any one time. However, it is usually accompanied by a djembe or some other drum to produce the core beat.
The Sabar is one other type of drum, this one originating in the West African nation of Senegal. However, this drum is played in a contrasting manner to the others, as it requires the use of a hand and a stick. This drum was originally used to communicate between faraway tribes, as the distinctive sound of the Sabar could be heard across distances as great as 15 kilometers in any direction. Different rhythms were used to convey varying phrases, such as warnings or pleas for help. Today, it is primarily used for the same function as the Kpanlogo. The Sabar is used for such occasions as births, weddings, and various holidays. Sabar drum beats today are kept alive through the work of the Senegalese musician Doudou N’Diaye Rose, a man born in Dakar, the capital of Senegal. Doudou N’Diaye Rose alone has created over 500 drum beats on the Sabar, his instrument of choice.
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