AFRICAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
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Most of these objects were originally described as if authentic. Most were not. Those objects that have been vetted as authentic by outside experts (Christophe Rolley, Edith Mbella, Daniel Mato, Rand Ningali, Phil Warish and Ethan Rider) are labelled as such. Objects made for the market are labelled accordingly, and objects in our archives or on pages no longer on our website should be assumed to be inauthentic if not otherwise labelled.
Photographs © Tim Hamill
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
African drums were musical instruments, ceremonial objects and means
of communication. The large exhibit focuses on the traditional drums of
the Yoruba, Senufo, Kuba, Chokwe, Bamileke, Igbo and other peoples, plus
slit drums of the Yaka, Dan and Yangere. Other instruments, such as gongs,
horns, kora, harps and mbira (thumb pianos) are also included. Most of the
exhibit is visual; many pieces are not capable of being played, but some
are. We also have contemporary jembe drums, talking drums and balliphones
all intended for play. The drums range from everyday objects with monumental,
simple forms to ornate pieces bringing status to the owner, connoting power
and the honoring of ancestors. They all show the creativity and power Africans
put into functional objects.
- BAMILEKE, GONGS, Cameroon
- BAMILEKE, HORNS, Cameroon
ARCHIVES ONLY
- DAN, BELLS, Ivory Coast
ARCHIVES ONLY
ETHIOPIAN, HARPS, Ethiopia
ARCHIVES ONLY
- FON, RATTLES, Benin
FLUTES Various peoples
GONGS Various peoples
- HARPS Various peoples
- HORNS Various peoples
- LOBI, BELLS, Burkina
Faso
ARCHIVES ONLY
- LUBA, RATTLES, Dem. Rep. Congo
- MBIRA (FINGER HARPS) Various peoples
- RATTLES, Cameroon
- TIKAR, HORNS,
Cameroon
ARCHIVES ONLY
- YORUBA, BELLS, Nigeria
ARCHIVES ONLY
- YORUBA, GONGS, Nigeria
ARCHIVES ONLY
GO TO AFRICAN DRUMS
Exhibition
GO TO DRUMS
and SHIELDS Exhibition
Oct. 3 - Nov. 30, 1996
GO TO AFRICAN DRUM
EXHIBIT PAGE
GO TO ARTIFACTS PAGE
GO TO ARTIFACTS PAGE
GO TO AFRICAN FIGURES PAGE
GO TO NEW ADDITIONS PAGE
