Category: Entertainment and leisure gt; gt; Music

Analysis:

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African drum --- Djembe originated from West African tribes and is a traditional musical instrument of indigenous peoples. It is usually hung around the neck and beaten while walking, rather than placed on the ground. The most special thing is that this instrument must be struck by hand, with one hand adjusting the pitch and the other hand striking the rhythm.

The main feature of African drumming is that its musical properties can be widely used in special festive occasions. For example, Yagba Odienne is a must-have song for concerts, weddings, festivals, etc., while Yankadi is an overflowing song. A warm welcome melody. Listen to African music with rich rhythm changes, and you will experience the mysterious and special national style!

Drums are a popular musical instrument in black Africa and are also known as the soul of African traditional music.

The functions and uses of drums are diverse in Africa. In addition to being used for music, they are sometimes also symbols of nations, tribes or religions, or used to convey various messages, the so-called "talking drums". drum". African drums have their own national characteristics, and are unique in terms of materials, shapes and playing techniques.

Generally speaking, there are dozens of basic drum types and hundreds of variations of drums in Africa. Drum, as big as a water vat or as small as a teacup. The shape of the drum body includes gyro-shaped, conical, pillar-shaped, square, as well as various bird and animal shapes, and even human-shaped ones. Some drums are also painted with various geometric figures, engraved with flowers, plants and flowers, highlighting the characteristics of black culture. Drum skins are also diverse. In addition to the commonly used cowhide and antelope skins, leopard skins, zebra skins, lizard skins, crocodile skins, and even elephant ears are also used. Some devices are often added to the African drum to obtain certain special effects, such as placing some beads or dried plant seeds in the drum cavity, or placing metal sheets, shells, and colorful beads on the rim of the drum. When the drummer hits the drum, it makes a tinkling sound. There are also many ways to hold the drum. It is common to place the drum between the legs. Sometimes the drum is also held under the arm, hung around the neck, or slung over the shoulder. There are many ways to beat the drum. People beat the drum with their fists, palms and even their heels on various parts of the drum to produce different sounds and effects. Drum hammers are also used for beating. In the past, drum hammers were made from ivory and human bones. There is also a friction drum that uses a small stick to rub the drum head sprayed with some kind of powder to produce sound. In Nigeria, there is a small drum played under the arm. The pitch of the drum can change at any time according to the pressure of the arm on the leather strip of the drum body.

Drums can be played solo, in ensembles and in ensembles. The rhythms of solo and ensemble drums are complex and changeable, with ups and downs, sonorous and powerful. When the drums are played collectively or when one person plays multiple drums at the same time, the sound of the drums is majestic, like thousands of horses galloping, majestic and exciting. Dancing is indispensable in African life, and dancing is inseparable from drums. In the Swahili language of East Africa, "drum" and "dance" are the same word. In Togo's singing and dancing activities, when to play music, when to dance, and even the speed of the rhythm and the progression of the melody must obey the command of the big drum. Female drummers in Mauritania dance and play the drums at the same time. Sometimes they flick the drum skin with their fingers, like clouds and flowing water, and sometimes they hit hard, like a rushing river. While they were beating the drums, they took turns flapping their arms and legs with both hands, making various gestures, which was very moving. Another example is in Burundi, where 10 male dancers hold big drums on their heads and perform while beating, forming a semicircle. Then each of the actors takes off the big drum and puts it in front of them. Another big drum is placed in the circle, and the actors take turns stepping forward to play. Sometimes they jump in the air, sometimes they spin and dance, and they are accompanied by singing. The strong rhythm, intensive drumbeats, and enthusiastic carnival scenes are very exciting. Drums often serve as symbols of countries and nations in Africa. For example, there is a drum in the national battle of Uganda, which shows an ancient tradition. Because before Uganda became a republic, there were four kingdoms. The royal family of each kingdom had a set of drums of different sizes, each with different names and timbres.

This kind of drum can only be used on grand occasions such as royal weddings and funerals, the coronation of a new king, and declaration of war with foreign countries. For people belonging to different levels of power, the number of drums is stipulated. In the original Buganda Kingdom, there were 93 kings of huge ceremonial drums, and the chiefs at all levels decreased accordingly. When replacing the drum skin, Sacrificing humans or animals. This kind of drum is revered as a sacred object.

African drums are also often used to convey information and language. The drummer uses different strengths and hits different parts of the drum surface to produce various sounds, plus different rhythms, forming various sounds. Various drum beats serve as a signal language to convey various messages. In the quieter moments of the morning and evening, the sound of the drums can be heard as far as 15 kilometers away. The drummers repeat the sound of the drums one after another, so that the "words" can be accurately transmitted at an amazing speed - to a location a hundred miles away. It can be reached within two hours. In the past, when slave traders captured black people, Africans used drums to notify people to flee quickly, leaving the slave traders with nothing. Drum language is also often used to call on people to participate in public welfare work, resist enemy attacks, report fire alarms, etc.

Africans also often use encouragement to express things that are inconvenient to express in words. For example, among the Akan people in Ghana, husbands are used to using drum language to praise their wives at dances. Drum language can also be used to announce a person’s happiness. Birth, Death and Marriage.

In many places in Africa, a competition to select drummers is held every once in a while. At the "Drum Competition" held in Ghana, drummers were divided into two groups to play drums against each other. First, bright and enthusiastic drum beats are used to praise the chief's virtues and achievements, then slow, fresh drum beats are used to narrate ancient myths and legends, and then rapid drum beats are used to announce news and interesting events within the clan. The complex and changeable rhythms in the drums express people's various emotions. Sometimes they make people sad and angry, sometimes they make people laugh. People hold their breath and concentrate for fear of missing a drum beat. The motto of "Drum Competition" is "Drum Fighting". First, one group of drummers asks a question, and the other group must use drumbeats to answer and ask counter-questions, otherwise they lose. The audience gathered around the drummer to help make suggestions, join in the battle, cheer, and find ways to defeat the opponent.

In short, the most prominent and important factor in African music is rhythm. Drums are the basis of African music rhythm and the most important instrument for expressing musical language. Drums play an important role in the lives of African people. It is unmatched by any other instrument.

Among the various drums in Africa, the most commonly used is a medium-sized drum called Dum Dum. It is usually placed between the legs and beaten by hand. The performance is often played with Very improvisational. In recent years, African drums have also entered the field of professional music creation. "Mother Nozibo", composed in 1990 by the Zimbabwean composer Domishani Mallari, is a new work performed with African drums and string quartet. It was performed by the world-famous Konos Quartet with great effect. good.