Thursday 4 August 2011

Age Old Attraction of African Drums

By Claudia Kasen


The rhythm of African drums truly gets to you "you cannot ignore it: it can get your toes drumming and you feel drawn in by the strong, resonating beat and characteristic sound of these traditional instruments that have endured for centuries and are still well-liked internationally. Their influence has spread to several nations, most clearly the Caribbean, the West Indies and Latin America.

Perhaps one of the reasons they are so amazingly popular is that they do not require you to be in a position to read music or have great musical talent: if you have a sense of rhythm you can like playing these drums for hours. In spite of their primitive simplicity: they're so basic; goblet formed, made sometimes of hardwood with goatskin stretched ott; they've an enduring appeal and are played widely even today.

There are many firms which focus on the construction and distribution of these fantastic instruments and you will have no Problems in finding a source for them. Among the premiere brands are Remo, Tiger, Kambala, Toca and Meinl. Some African drums are now made in manmade materials, but if you can get your hands on a real drum, made in Africa, even though it is sort of old, don't hesitate to purchase it, as you will have a treasure in your possession.

Go to nearly any African hamlet and you are likely to hear someone playing African drums, typically with an audience of one or two youngsters gathered around, with some listening and others dancing nonchalantly to the compelling rhythm. There are legitimate videos posted on You Tube, depicting just such scenes. You'll hear them being played in bars in Jamaica or in towns and towns in Nicaragua or Brazil. Once you have the drum in your possession, it is ready to be played and the more you play it, the more at ease you will be with the instrument. Play a bit of appropriate music on a CD and go with the music with the drum. You will find infinite ways of effortless entertainment for several hours.

The most famous African drums are the djembe drum, djun djun, bougarabou, gadzo, conga and kpanlogo but there are others and they have all played a vital role in African culture and religion for centuries. They are used at marriages, funerals, to celebrate births, in ritual dances, at the installation of chiefs and in numerous rites. To Africans they are an integral part of life and an indispensable accompaniment in the assorted events connected with African culture. Take a look at the many sites devoted to these drums and consider buying a few for yourself: you will own history and be linked to the oldest practices in the world.




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