| Traditional African entertainment makes use of a | | | | parts to every performance: 1) drum music 2) |
| wide variety of musical instruments, all made out | | | | pipe interludes 3) vocal counterpart of the pipe |
| of materials found in nature. These instruments | | | | tunes. There are eight pieces to each |
| include drums, gongs, bells, harps, flutes and | | | | performance. The pieces are identified by the |
| xylophones. In African culture music, dance and | | | | name for the type of drumming and dancing |
| song go hand in hand and to separate them into | | | | done, by the commemorative name of the event |
| distinct categories is virtually impossible. Music, | | | | or by a name that is indicative of the participants. |
| dance and song is also an inherent part of each | | | | The most popular and well know traditional musical |
| culture and is so much more than a mere form | | | | instrument is the djembe drum. The drum comes |
| of entertainment, it is part of their lifeblood and is | | | | from West Africa where it plays an integral part |
| intrinsic to their way of life. Today, even though | | | | in the areas musical traditions and culture. The |
| many Africans no longer live a traditional life but | | | | drum is goblet shaped and covered with animal |
| have fully adopted western cultures and western | | | | skin and is meant to be played with your bare |
| influences, they still retain an inherent love for | | | | hands. The Bamana people in Mali say that the |
| music, dance and song. | | | | name djembe comes from the saying "Anke dje, |
| Some traditional African dances that are still | | | | anke, be" which translates to "everyone gather |
| popular to this day include: | | | | together" and thus neatly defines the drum's |
| Agbaei, which is a flirtatious, social dance of the | | | | purpose. |
| Krobo of Ghana. According to the oral history of | | | | The combination of the drum's goblet shape, skin |
| the Krobo, the elders started the dance when | | | | covering and density mean that it is capable of |
| they realised that the youth in their settlement | | | | producing a wide range of tones, from a high |
| were having trouble with the whole courtship | | | | sharp sound produced from a slap to the round |
| process. They created the dance so that the | | | | full bass tone. In order to achieve the right sound |
| young men and women of the village would have | | | | it is important to focus or disperse your hand's |
| to participate in the dance and therefore learn | | | | energy by positioning it in the correct place. |
| some tips that would help them in real life | | | | Striking the drum with your fingers and palm |
| situations. | | | | towards the centre of the drum will produce the |
| Bamaaya means, "The river (or valley) is wet" | | | | bass note, while striking the drum near the rim |
| and is the most popular dance of the Dagbamba | | | | with the fleshy part of your palm will produce the |
| people in Northern Ghana. These days it serves | | | | tone and the slap. |
| as a dance for a variety of social occasions such | | | | The djembe drum is believed to contain three |
| as festivals, national day celebrations and even | | | | spirits: 1) the spirit of the tree from which it was |
| funerals. It began, however, as a religious musical | | | | made 2) the spirit of the animal from whom the |
| performance. The dance requires a great deal of | | | | skin cover came from and 3) the spirit of the |
| fitness and flexibility as there is a lot of waist | | | | instrument maker. Legend has it that the djembe |
| movement and twisting. When it first started it | | | | drum and the tree that it was made from was a |
| was a dance that only men could take part in, the | | | | gift from a Djinn or malevolent Demigod. A |
| women did the singing, praise shouting and | | | | djembe drum is properly crafted if it is made |
| encouraged the dancers. Now both sexes can | | | | from a single piece of hollowed out tree called |
| take part in the dance. | | | | Dimba or Devil Wood. If it has been glued |
| Yeve is a Stone or Thunder God that falls from | | | | together from slat or segments then it is believed |
| the sky during or after a rainstorm. The people | | | | that the soul of the tree doesn't reside there. |
| who believe this belong to one of the most | | | | The djembe drum has gained in popularity |
| secretive and powerful cults in the South Eastern | | | | worldwide since the late 20th century. Drum |
| Ewe territories in West Africa. Yeve music has a | | | | circles are especially popular as team building |
| unique structure that identifies it as separate from | | | | exercises for corporations or businesses. In order |
| other Ewe music. Yeve music has a suite of | | | | to get the complete experience, however, one |
| seven to nine dance forms or movements and | | | | needs the whole ensemble and not just the |
| each movement is related to a specific phase of | | | | djembe drums. The entire cast includes bells, and |
| worship. | | | | dunun drums with individuals playing different parts |
| Kete is a dance form that is found in the royal | | | | that all intertwine to form a beautiful whole. There |
| courts of Akan communities. It is only performed | | | | is usually a lead djembe drum player who plays |
| if the chief's status is such that he is entitled to | | | | rhythms and signals the beginning and end of a |
| be carried in a palanquin. The music is performed | | | | piece. |
| on state occasions and festivals. There are three | | | | |