African Musical Instruments
What Else Is There Apart From Percussion?
When we talk about African musical instruments, we Westerners usually just think of one thing: drums. Anything else just doesn't seem African enough.
But there is more to African music than just percussion. What many people ignore is a fact: Africa is also full of melody, created by harps, guitars, fiddles and flutes!
This music can be pretty different from what we are used to. But that just makes it even more entertaining!
Before these old traditions completely disappear, let me try to make you curious:
African Instruments With Strings ( Chordophone )
The malinke kora and its smaller version called ngoni are already pretty famous thanks to the world tours of big African stars like Salif Keita.
But have you ever listened to a horse tail?
The gonje from Northern Ghana is some sort of violin, a fiddle, that uses the hair of horse tails to produce sound. Sounds impossible? Sounds good!
The benta musical bow seems even more bizarre to me: a mouth bow - how's that supposed to work?
The seperewa lute-harp touches with just heavenly music, while the Somalian shareero rather amuses with its look and a one-stringed guitar produces a smash hit that gets the whole of Ghana rocking!
African Wind Instruments ( Aerophone )
Trumpets and whistles made of animal horns or large sea shells.
A flute that is played through the nose, a flute that they rather shout than blow, and a funeral flute that gets you in a party mood.
These are just some examples of African music instruments to get you in the mood for more.
Curious?
Want to know more about these African musical instruments and see them in action?
My newsletter will alert you when detailed portraits are posted to this site:
