calabash, concussion idiophone

Gourd rattle with loose material inside and corn cob stopper.

Played held in one hand and beaten with the palm of the other hand. It can also be shaken in the air so that the seeds or stones inside make the sound. Gourd rattles like this are in widespread use in Africa and are played by musicians as part of the percussion part of a small orchestra. In South Africa, gourd rattles are often played alongside marimbas, mbiras, and djembe drums.

Collection Information

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