AFRICAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Sorry, this page of our website may not be up to date. The most updated page
to see what is available is the INDEX by TRIBE page.

Most of these objects were originally described as if authentic.  Most were not. Those objects that have been vetted as authentic by outside experts (Christophe Rolley, Edith Mbella, Daniel Mato, Rand Ningali, Phil Warish and Ethan Rider) are labelled as such. Objects made for the market are labelled accordingly, and objects in our archives or on pages no longer on our website should be assumed to be inauthentic if not otherwise labelled.

MOSSI Flutes

LOBI Flutes

BWA Flutes

SENUFO Drum 4

African Horn Catalog

BAMILEKE, Gong Catalog

African Mbira Catalog

Djembe Drum Catalog

Talking Drum Catalog

KUBA Drum Catalog

AFRICAN Rattles Catalog

African Gong Catalog

DRUMS Various Peoples

The catalogs below have all been sold and are left here fopr educational and research purposes.

IGBO Drums SOLD

African Harps SOLD

CHOKWE Drums SOLD

YORUBA Gongs SOLD

DAN Drums SOLD

BUYU Castenet SOLD

DAN Drums SOLD

YORUBA Drums SOLD

BAMILEKE Drums SOLD

YAKA Drums SOLD

ETHIOPIAN Harp 1 SOLD

 
Photographs © Tim Hamill

African drums were musical instruments, ceremonial objects and means of communication. The large exhibit focuses on the traditional drums of the Yoruba, Senufo, Kuba, Chokwe, Bamileke, Igbo and other peoples, plus slit drums of the Yaka, Dan and Yangere. Other instruments, such as gongs, horns, kora, harps and mbira (thumb pianos) are also included. Most of the exhibit is visual; many pieces are not capable of being played, but some are. We also have contemporary jembe drums, talking drums and balliphones all intended for play. The drums range from everyday objects with monumental, simple forms to ornate pieces bringing status to the owner, connoting power and the honoring of ancestors. They all show the creativity and power Africans put into functional objects.