Home



Drumming Through the Jungle Parent-Teacher Jungle Guide for
Drumming Through the Jungle  • • •












Print Version

In the Congo Basin much of the traditional music imitates sounds of the rainforest. Music is simply an expression of the natural and multi-layered rhythms of the environment. In the world of the Congo Basin, it is not uncommon to hear monkeys drumming on buttress roots, or some of the Baka people playing water drums by splashing their hands on the surface of the river. Music and rhythm is more than just for entertainment. In the Congo Basin, life is truly lived in rhythm with the world around them.

In the Drumming Through the Jungle story, the actual names of the instruments were intentionally left out. The reason for this was to improve the readability of the story and avoid tripping over names and pronunciation that could hinder the rhythmic flow of the book. Below are the instruments used in the story and their correct names and pronunciation.

 

  Drums            
 

 Overview and explanation of instruments used in the story

Log Drum

 Log Drum--Also referred to as a slit drum, slit log drum, tongue drum, Krin, or Kolokolos. The log drum is one of the oldest instruments in the world, and found throughout the Congo Basin, West Africa, as well as in many other cultures. It is a hollowed out log with two or more slits of different pitches.  It is played with sticks or mallets. There are various sizes of log drums, ranging from small and portable, to several feet long. Traditionally, they were used for sending messages over long distances, and for entertainment. In the Drumming Through the Jungle story the log drum is played by Dexter the rabbit.

Double Bell with Stick

 Double Bell--Traditionally named gankogui (gon-KOE-gui), it is also referred to as
agogo bell, or hi-low bell. It originated in West Africa, but has now become standard in Brazilian drumming.  Traditionally it is made of iron, and has two different pitched bells that are played with a stick. It is a key instrument in West African drumming for solidifying and unifying the rhythm.  In the Drumming Through the Jungle story the double bell is played by Bananas the monkey.

Conga Drum

 Conga--Traditionally, it is believed that this drum is named after the Congo region in Africa where it originated.  It is shaped like a slender barrel, and was popularized in Afro-Cuban/Latin music. The term "conga" is often used generically to refer to these drums as a whole.  In Latin drumming, however, three different sizes have emerged, each with a distinct name:  Quinto (small), Segundo or Conga (medium), and Tumbadora or Tumba (large). In the Drumming Through the Jungle story the conga drum is played by King the lion.

Shaker

 Shaker--Traditionally the West African shaker is referred to as axatse (ah-HOT-say), shekere (SHEH-kuh-ray), shake-shake, or shaburay. It is made from gourds with shells, seeds, or beads strung around the outside. There are many different sizes and shapes of shakers.  The basic playing technique is to simply shake it, though, many more elaborate techniques have developed that are quite impressive to see and hear.  In the Drumming Through the Jungle story the shaker is played by Sleek the snake.  

Ngoma Drum

 Ngoma (n-GO-mah)--The word ngoma actually means drum, and generically refers to drums, but can also refer to a song, dance, etc. using the drum.  There are various sizes of ngoma drums, but typically it stands about 4 ft. tall. It can be played with the hands, or with one hand on the drum head and another hitting a stick on the side of the drum shell.  It is used extensively in the Congo Basin region.  The ngoma drum is capable of rich low bass tones, and warm resonant tones similar to the Tumbadora (low conga). In the Drumming Through the Jungle story the ngoma drum is played by Trunks the elephant.  


The above information was adapted from the following sources:

The Big Bang:  In the Beginning Was the Drum (3 CD set with booklet).

http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/view/page.basic/country/content.country/congo_drc__zaire__17

http://www.wwdrums.com/glossary-of-african-drumming-and-dance-a-13.html

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/explore/rainforest/rainforest_music_lo.html

http://www.artdrum.com/HISTORY_OF_CONGA_DRUMS.htm

http://www.ibiblio.org/musicians/botsford/educators/shekere/

http://borntogroove.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=171

http://www.djembedirect.com/store/shakers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngoma_drums

http://www.pygmies.info/