AFRICAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

MOSSI Flutes

LOBI Flutes

BWA Flutes

ETHIOPIAN Harp 1

YORUBA Drum Catalog

BAMILEKE Drum Catalog

YAKA Drum Catalog

SENUFO Drum Catalog

African Horn Catalog

BAMILEKE, Gong Catalog

African Mbira Catalog

African Harps Catalog

IGBO Drum Catalog

KUBA Drum Catalog

Djembe Drum Catalog

CHOKWE Drum Catalog

YORUBA Gong Catalog

DAN Drum Catalog

African Gong Catalog

Talking Drum Catalog

DRUMS Various Peoples

AFRICAN Rattles Catalog

BUYU Castenet SOLD

Photographs © Tim Hamill

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.