African Musical Instruments

Q: What are African wind instruments?

This category of African musical instruments includes the gasba, kankangui, oporo, sodina, and zora.The gasba is a Berber instrument crafted from a reed and similar to a flute. Particularly common in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, it is still used in traditional raï music. With nine holes, the instrument is known for being challenging to master.The kankangui is a type of long trumpet, about 6.5 ft (2 m) long, made entirely of copper. It is used only in Benin during official ceremonies for the country's royal family.Originally from Madagascar, the sodina is a small flute measuring around 12 in (30 cm), usually crafted from bamboo. It has six holes spaced evenly. This instrument was once used to accompany religious ceremonies on the island.

Q: What are African string instruments?

African stringed instruments include the adjalin, ennanga, guembri, kabosy, kora, n'goni, nyatiti, and seprewa.The kora is undoubtedly the most elaborate African instrument. It is a type of harp that originated in Mali but can be found throughout West Africa. It is made from half of a large calabash, which forms the body of the instrument.The kabosy is a Malagasy musical instrument similar to a small 6-string guitar, crafted with a turtle shell and zebu skin for its sound box.The nyatiti, meanwhile, comes from Kenya and is shaped like a lyre, measuring around 35.4 in (90 cm) in length. The instrument has between five and eight strings.

Kalimba

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Djembe

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Cabasa

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What are traditional African instruments?

There are many African instruments. Below is a non-exhaustive list of the most well-known ones:

Algaïta, atumpan, antsiva, balafon, bendir, kalimba (calimba, sanza, or mbira), cabasa, chekeré (sekéré), conga, darbouka, djembe, dum dum or doundounba, gasbâ, gambri, gongoba, inanga, kabosy, kalangu, kankangui, kayamb, kora, krar, kugué, mezoued or magrouna, n'goni, nyatiti, pluriarc, rouleur, seprewa, sodina, tama, udu, zokra

These instruments vary greatly in size, ranging from small objects that fit in one hand to much more complex and imposing instruments made up of dozens or even hundreds of parts. Most are still crafted by hand from wood, in a traditional, artisanal way.

The world instruments you are most likely to encounter in Africa are mainly drums, mbiras or kalimbas, xylophones such as the balafon, and chekerés, a type of African maracas.

What are African percussion instruments?

This family of African musical instruments includes the balafon, bendir, cabasa, darbouka, djembe, dum-dum, kalimba (mbira or sanza), tama, and udu.

Among these, the djembe is a type of drum dating back to the 13th century, with goat or antelope hide stretched across the top. It originated in the ancient Mali (Manding) Empire.

The kalimba, meanwhile, is a small musical instrument that resembles a piano, but with around twenty metal tines. It appeared roughly 3,000 years ago on the west coast of Africa.

Finally, the bendir is a traditional instrument in Berber music and is very similar to a tambourine.

What are African wind instruments?

This category of African musical instruments includes the gasba, kankangui, oporo, sodina, and zora.

The gasba is a Berber instrument crafted from a reed and similar to a flute. Particularly common in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, it is still used in traditional raï music. With nine holes, the instrument is known for being challenging to master.

The kankangui is a type of long trumpet, about 6.5 ft (2 m) long, made entirely of copper. It is used only in Benin during official ceremonies for the country's royal family.

Originally from Madagascar, the sodina is a small flute measuring around 12 in (30 cm), usually crafted from bamboo. It has six holes spaced evenly. This instrument was once used to accompany religious ceremonies on the island.

What are African string instruments?

African stringed instruments include the adjalin, ennanga, guembri, kabosy, kora, n'goni, nyatiti, and seprewa.

The kora is undoubtedly the most elaborate African instrument. It is a type of harp that originated in Mali but can be found throughout West Africa. It is made from half of a large calabash, which forms the body of the instrument.

The kabosy is a Malagasy musical instrument similar to a small 6-string guitar, crafted with a turtle shell and zebu skin for its sound box.

The nyatiti, meanwhile, comes from Kenya and is shaped like a lyre, measuring around 35.4 in (90 cm) in length. The instrument has between five and eight strings.