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The Importance of Drums in African Tradition

African drums hold a special place in the history of Africa. In Western Culture the idea of drumming is nearly always associated with entertainment or just to add to the musical quality of a song. In Africa, drums hold a deeper symbolic and historical meaning.

Drums are almost always an accompaniment for any manner of ceremony - births, deaths, marriages - together with a ritual dance. The vicious sound of many drums pounding together is also a necessary installment to stir up emotions in a battle or war to inspire excitement and passion. Drums are a unique form of communication that can resound feelings of celebration, moods of sadness, or grand entrances of African kings and queens.

The Djembe drum is possibly the most influential and basic of all the African drums, originally. It dates back to 500 A.D. The Djembe was originally created as a sacred drum to be used in healing ceremonies, rites of passage, ancestral worship, warrior rituals, as well as social dances. The drum rhythm of the djembe is performed in the evening for most celebrations, especially during full moon, spring, summer and winter harvesting time, weddings, baptisms, honoring of mothers, immediately after Ramadaan (the month of fast for all Muslims) or countless other celebrations. The Djembe drum is made in varying sizes, and even children in Africa learn the Djembe at a young age with extra small Djembe drums made especially for them. Many times Djembe drum players will pass down their skill from generation to generation; and at the same time they pass down the stories and histories they have communicated through their music.

In much of Africa, certain drums are believed to symbolize and protect royalty and are often housed in sacred dwellings. In fact you could say the drum was actually the first form of telephone.

Tribes, with use of the drum would communicate with other tribes often miles away. Drums were often used to signal meetings, dangers, etc,...

The talking drums of Africa imitate the pitch patterns of language and transmit messages over many miles. In the hands of skilled performers, they can reproduce the sounds of proverbs or praise songs through a specialized drum "language" - their dialogue can be easily understood by a knowledgeable Yoruba audience.

Because of the perceived potential of talking drums to "speak" in a tongue undistinguishable to slave traders and thus to incite rebellion, these and other drums were once banned from use by African Americans in the United States. Thankfully, this ban was reversed many years ago.

Each African drum has a unique history behind it. African culture is so rich in history and symbolism. Next time you want to pick up an instrument with a little more to offer, try an African drum.

Article Source: http://articlebasin.com

Wayne Kiltz is the founder and owner of Africa Imports. You can find over 100 other articles on African art, culture, and fashion, along with African proverbs, recipes, and African business opportunities at Africa Imports

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