WEEK EIGHT
CLASSIFICATION OF AFRICAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Drumming plays important role in Nigerian music. The Nigerian musical instrument are many and can be classified into families on the basis of the method by which their sounds are produced.
Some of the Nigerian musical instruments namely are :
| Agidigbo molo Ekwe |
| Agogo/gong Goje Kaho |
| Sekere kudi wooden clapper |
| Gudugudu omele-ako |
| Dundun Omele-abo |
| Kakaki Ngelenge |
| Shantu Udu |
The four families of the Nigerian musical instruments are :
- Idiophone – Aerophone – Chordophone – Membraphone
Idiophone : instruments in this group produce sound by the vibration of their body, when they are struck, shaken. They are commonly used musical instruments in Nigeria and very easy to play
Examples : sekere, gong , Xylophone , Ekwe , pot drum, wooden clapper, Agidigbo
Aerophone : These are the instruments that can be played when air is blown in them. They are of three types : Horn , Trumpet and Flute.
Examples : kakaki , Oja, Algaita , Etsu , Farai , Upe (from Ondo)
Chordophone : This group of
instrument produces sound by the vibration of a stretched string. The string can be plucked , bowed or struck.
Examples : Goje , molo, Gurumi, Gwari
Membranophone : These are the group of instruments made from Animal skin. The skin is used to cover the end or both ends of the hallowed wood. The skin are held with small pegs, which are used to tune the drum.
Examples : Dundun, tomtom, batakoto, Omele , gudugudu, adamo