The History of African Drumming

The drum is perhaps the oldest musical instrument in the world, with every society employing it in varying degrees. However, it is most revered among the people of Africa, where it comes in various forms and fulfills various functions. The drum is the most important musical instrument in Africa.

Djembe and Its Origins

Arguably the most famous drum of African origin is the djembe, a goatskin-covered percussion instrument shaped like a large goblet made to be played with bare hands. It first enters into record during the Mali Empire, the dominant political unit in West Africa from the 13th to the 15th century that stretched from present-day Senegal to Mali. Its people---the Malinke and the Susu---used it during the celebration of sacred and secular events. The djembe's most famous use is by the region's griots, a West African hybrid of historians and musicians who accompany their tales with music, particularly about the warrior-founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata (c. 1217 to 1255). The use of the djembe eventually spread throughout West Africa.

Djembe Beyond Africa

Starting from the 1950s, the djembe began to spread to other parts of the world due to the world tours of a group called Les Ballets Africains, led by a Guinean musician named Fodeba Keita. A member of the group, Ladji Camara went to the United States in the 1960s and began to teach people there how to play the djembe, and another member, Famoudou Konate, formed his own group in Europe in 1987 called the "Famoudou Konate Ensemble."

Talking Drum

Another well-known African drum is the "talking drum," so named because its pitch can be altered to mimic language tonality or "talk." It has its origins among the Yoruba people, who mainly live in present-day Nigeria and today refer to it as "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. It is an hourglass-shaped drum with a strap, traditionally slung over one shoulder while tucked underneath the other and played with a curved beater. Like the djembe, the talking drum is used throughout West Africa.

Other Types of African Drums

There are several other kinds of African drums. Among them is the ngoma, a tall, huge, bass-heavy drum used by the Bantu peoples of central, eastern and southern Africa; and the kebero, a double-headed conical drum used in the music of Eritrea and Ethiopia.

Impact of African Drums

Latin American music has a strong African influence, as the Atlantic Slave Trade, lasting from the 16th to the 19th century, resulted in Africans bringing their drums with them. The djembe has become a prominent rhythm instrument in Western music, used by acts such as Ben Harper, Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel and the Grateful Dead.

References

• A Guide to the Jembe
• Drum with a Thousand Faces
• Drumming, the Backbone of African and Reggae Music

Resources

• "Science: Drum Telegraphy," TIME article.
• A History of the Conga Drum