Teachers Guide

Musical Instruments

I'Teachers Program Guide - “Dances of West Africa” - African Heritage Dancers & Drummers

The primary musical instruments indigenous to the Senegambia region and used to provide the music for this West African dance program is known as the “D’Jimbe” orchestra. Named for the “Lead” drum that speaks rhythm patterns to the dancers and other musicians. There are other melody instruments in the orchestra, such as the rattles, (Sha Sha) and the talking drum (Tamma) and the “Griots” instrument (the Balophone), as well as, the tempo drum known as a “D’Jun D’Jun.”

SHA SHA – A rattle instrument made from a Gourd, with beads and string on the outside, that rattle when shaken. A melody instrument, sometimes providing tempo. A cousin to the ancient rattle instrument known as a “Maraca.”

D’JUN D’JUN – A Tempo instrument of the D’Jimbe Orchestra

The D’Jun D’Jun, a large double-headed drum, is used to keep the traditional orchestra’s tempo. The tempo is the speed of the orchestra; how fast or slow it plays. It is played with a stick, also with stick and hand

BALOPHONE – A Xylophone-like instrument, made of wood, having several keys of different pitch. Used by some “Griots” (Story Tellers) instead of the stringed “Cora” (a stringed Gourd Harp), to make music while singing praise songs and historical poems.

D’JIMBE – A lead, solo and melody drum for which the orchestra is named.

The D’Jimbe is a champagne-glass shaped drum, carved with a single piece of wood and played with the hands. Some D’Jimbe are used to provide melody, while others are used as lead instruments, speaking to the dancers and other musicians.

TAMMA or “Talking Drum”

The “Tamma,” an HourGlass shaped drum with skin on both ends, connected by strings, is able to tighten or loosen the heads on the drum to create different sounds. The “Tamma” is an African language drum. African languages are tone languages; meanings are given to words with different sounds. The drummer speaks by squeezing the strings as he plays, changing the tones that create words and phrases. This drum was an early public address system.