Thursday, August 4, 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 several corporations which specialise in the creation and distribution of these amazing instruments and you will have no Problems in finding a source for them. Among the leading brands are Remo, Tiger, Kambala, Toca and Meinl. Some African drums are now made in artificial materials, but if you can get your hands on an authentic drum, made in Africa, even though it is quite old, don't hesitate to get it, as you will have a treasure in your possession.

Go to almost any African town and you are probably going to hear somebody playing African drums, usually with an audience of a few kids gathered around, with some listening and others dancing coolly to the powerful rhythm. There are genuine videos posted on You Tube, showing just such scenes. You will hear them being played in bars in Jamaica or in cities and villages in Nicaragua or Brazil. After you have the drum in your possession, it is prepared to be played and the more that you play it, the more at ease you'll be with the instrument. Play a piece of acceptable music on a CD and accompany the music with the drum. You'll find limitless methods of easy entertainment for some time.

The best known African drums are the djembe drum, djun djun, bougarabou, gadzo, conga and kpanlogo but there are others and they have all played a vital part in African culture and faith for many years. They're used at weddings, funerals, to celebrate births, in ritual dances, at the installation of chiefs and in several ceremonies. To Africans they are an important part of life and an essential accompaniment in the various events linked with African culture. Try the many sites dedicated to these drums and consider purchasing one or two for yourself: you may own history and be linked to the oldest traditions in the world.




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