Instruments
These instruments usually accompany the djembe :
dunduns :
A term used for all three bass drums, made out of the base of a tree, covered on both sides with cow
skin. Individually, from big (lowest tone) to small (highest) they are called dundunba (literally
"big dundun"), sangban and kenkeni. Each drum can have a bell ("kenken")
attached to it, which is played with the left hand while the right hand beats the drum with a wooden
stick. Depending on the region, maybe only two of the three drums are played, with or without bells.
They provide the rhythmic base for the djembes. A dundun player is called a "dundunfola".
djabara :
Also called "shekere". This instrument is played by the women. It is a gourd rattle :
a gourd (calabash) covered with a net braided with kauri shells or beads. The end of the net is pulled
to produce the sound.
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karignan :
A 20 cm long iron tube, beaten with a metal rod, played by the women.
sese or sekeseke :
These metal fans (or "ears") are mounted on a solo djembe.
Other west-african instruments you will often see are :
balafon :
A xylophone with fourteen or more bars and gourd resonators, played with
latex-headed wooden sticks. A balafon player is called a "balafola".
kora :
A harp with 21 strings, which has a guitar-like shape, and is played with the
strings facing the player, the "stick" upwards. A kora player is called a "korafola".
krin : A hollow wood log with 3 slits at the top, played with 2 sticks. This drum is used to
pass on news from village to village. It originated from the forest region of south-eastern Guinea.
talking drum :
("tama" in Senegal) A small hour-glass shaped drum with 2 skins on each side, connected with each
other through rope. This drum is positioned under the arm, and played with one hand and one stick,
while pressing the ropes with the arm to create the different tones.
kesekeseni :
Rattles containing seeds or small shells, played in pairs, adorned with raffia.
wassakhoumba :
Rattles made of gourd slices.
gita :
Half gourd with kauri shells attached along the rim. It is thrown in the air turning
it from side to side while dancing.
Bara or bendre :
Round gourd drum often played in Burkina Faso.
djidundun or water drum : A water drum consists of two half gourds, the smaller one floating
upside down in the bigger one. This drum is played with soft sticks.
sikko :
A square frame drum played with the hands or with sticks, originating in Sierra Leone.
sabar :
A typical Senegalese type of drum. They come in different sizes, and the bass version is closed at
the bottom. The goatskin is stretched over the head with a system of pegs, rope and ribbons. They
are played with one twig and one hand. "Sabar" is also the name for the festivity where the sabar
are played and the sabar is danced. Doudou NDiaye Rose and his family made this music famous.
