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Among the famous communication drums are the drums of West Africa (see talking drum). From regions known today as Nigeria and Ghana they spread across West Africa, and to the America and the Caribbean during the slave trade. There they were banned because they were being used by the slaves to communicate over long distances in a code unknown to ...
Ngoma drum in German East Africa in 1906. Ngoma (also called engoma or ng'oma or ingoma) are musical instruments used by certain Bantu populations of Africa. Ngoma is derived from the Kongo word for "drum". Different Bantu-inhabited regions have their own traditions of percussion, with different names for their instruments.
The kamal itself was simple to construct. It was a rectangular piece of either bone or wood which had a string with 9 consecutive knots attached to it. Another instrument available, developed by the Arabs as well, was the quadrant. Also a celestial navigation device, it was originally developed for astronomy and later transitioned to navigation ...
It could be used to find the altitude of the Sun or determine local time. It let sunlight shine through a small orifice on the rim of the instrument. The point of light striking the far side of the instrument gave the altitude or tell time. All those mentioned were the traditional instruments used until well into the second half of the 20th ...
These vessels were well-suited for the conditions of the Indian Ocean, enabling long-distance trade. The techniques used in dhow construction were passed down through generations, reflecting a deep understanding of maritime engineering and navigation. Dhows remain a symbol of the rich maritime heritage of the Swahili Coast. [1] [12] [13]
Mbira (/ ə m ˈ b ɪər ə / əm-BEER-ə) are a family of musical instruments, traditional to the Shona people of Zimbabwe.They consist of a wooden board (often fitted with a resonator) with attached staggered metal tines, played by holding the instrument in the hands and plucking the tines with the thumbs (at minimum), the right forefinger (most mbira), and sometimes the left forefinger.
An English emigrant to Africa, John F. Carrington, in his 1949 book The Talking Drums of Africa, explained how African drummers were able to communicate complex messages over vast distances. [23] Using low tones referred to as male and higher female tones, the drummer communicates through the phrases and pauses, which can travel upwards of 4 ...
Polyphonic wind ensembles: common throughout sub-Saharan Africa, ranging to West Africa to East Africa, and all the way down to South Africa. Typically wind and percussion instruments (usually flutes, drums, and iron bells in Cameroon), which are played by men in egalitarian societies. Women do not play instruments and only sing if participating.