African Instruments

InstrumentsFrom AFRICA

Krakeb

Darbuka

Click on the different countries to learn about the unique instrument that comes from that country!Each country will have a video of someone playing that instrument. These arent ALL of the instruments in Africa, but I hope you enjoy exploring the ones here.

Balafon

Kebero

Shekere

Kologo

Amadinda

Mbira

Lekgodilo

Mbira

Back home

The mbira is a wooden instrument with many metal pieces called "tines" that stick out. You hold the mbira in your hands and pluck the tines with your thumbs and right pointer finger to make sound. The mbira originated from Malawi and Zimbabwe.

Shekere

Back home

The shekere is a percussion instrument made from dried out gourds, with colorful beads woven around the outside. You play the shekere by shaking the instrument back and forth or by tapping the bottom of the drum. The shekere originated with the Yoruba people of countries like Nigeria and Togo.

Amadinda

Back home

The amadinda is a percussion instrument like a xylophone. It is made from 15 large wooden bars that each make a specific tone or pitch. You actually need two people, both with sticks, on either side of the amadinda in order to play it. The amadinda originated in the country of Uganda

Kologo

Back home

The kologo is a string instrument. It actually only has two strings on it, stretched out over a neck and a dried out gourd shell. You play the kologo by plucking the strings with a pick, and changing the notes on the neck with your other hand. The kologo originated from the country of Ghana

Balafon

Back home

The balafon is a percussion instrument made of wooden bars placed over dried out gourds with thin layers of plastic over top. You play the balafon by hitting the bars like a xylophone, with two mallets made out of gum-rubber. The balafon is from West Africa, From countries like Guinea.

Darbuka

Back home

The darbuka can also be known as a goblet drum or a doumbek. It is a percussion instrument made of wood, metal, or clay with a round drum head stretched over top. You play the darbuka with your hands, placing it sideways on your lap or under your arm. The darbuka is heard in a lot of Egyptian music.

Kebero

Back home

The kebero is a percussion instrument made out of a hollowed tree trunk, with drum heads on both sides of the drum. You play the kebero with your hands, playing on one head of the drum. The kebero originated from Ethiopia.

Krakeb

Back home

The krakebs are percussion instruments made out of iron, with two on each instrument attached by a string. You play the krakebs by holding one in each hand and clapping them together. The krakeb originated from Morocco.

Lekgodilo Flute

Back home

The lekgodilo is a flute like instrument, made out of dried kelp that washes up on the shore. The lekgodilo has no finger holes, but you play it by blowing into the top of the flute and changing sounds with your hand on the bottom. The lekgodilo flute comes from the shores of Southern Africa.