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Instruments of Guinea

 

DjembeDjembe :The djembe drum originated in Guinee, West Africa several hundred years ago. It is considered a magical drum with powers to transport people into other worlds when played well. The drum is played traditionally throughout West Africa today in countries such as Guinee, Mali, Ivory Coast, and Senegal. It is referred to as a healing drum in many societies because of its powers when played by master drummers.

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DoundounDoundoun: This drum was originally carved from wood, but nowadays consists of metal containers, covered on both sides by animal skin. This instrument is played standing.

 

 

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KenkeniKenkeni: Like the Doundoun, this drum is a lead instrument, which has a piece of metal attached to it. The player holds a small stick in one hand and a small bell in the other. In this way he makes two different rhythms and sounds.

 

 

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KrinKrin: The krin is made from one piece of hollowed wood with small openings. the player uses two wooden sticks to make a resonant sound, varied by the point of contact. this instrument is used to transmit messages through the forest, as well as to play sacred melodies, only known to initiates.

 

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Kora
Kora: A hollow calabas and the skin of a sheep, goat or gazelle, is used to form the kora-drum. attached to the calabas ia a rounded piece of wood, from which twenty-two strings are suspended in tension across a bridge positioned on the skin resonator.

 

 

 

 

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RattleRattle: A small gourd containing pebbles, which is attached to the end of a stick and when shaken produces a sharp clicking sound, rather like maracas, although popularly referred to in Guinea as “castanets”. The small gourd is normally decorated with beads and raffia.

 

 

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Lateral FluteLateral Flute:
The flute is generally made from a length of bamboo varying from forty to sixty centimeters and pierced with three of four holes. The flute has an extremely wide musical range and possesses a versatile tonality applicable to the majority of musical ensembles in guinea. one of the world’s oldest musical and traditionally the instrument of shepherds, the flute is widely appreciated in guinea for its plaintive and melodic sound.

 

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