African Musical Instrument – JSS1 Cultural & Creative Arts Lesson Note (Third Term)

African musical instruments are objects made and played to produce music across the African continent.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. name the four classes of African musical instruments and say how each produces sound;
2. give examples of instruments in each class;
3. describe the origin, use and sound of some major African instruments;
4. state the cultural functions of African instruments;
5. make a simple shaker, rain stick or thumb piano;
6. state how to store and clean musical instruments.

What are African musical instruments?

African musical instruments are tools used to make music that reflect the history, beliefs and art of the people who play them.

• Variety: each region and ethnic group has its own instruments.
• Age: they have been developed over thousands of years.
• Uses: cultural expression, religious ceremonies, social gatherings and entertainment.

How are African musical instruments classified?

There are four classes of African musical instruments: idiophones, membranophones, chordophones and aerophones, grouped by how they produce sound.

• Idiophones: the body of the instrument vibrates to make sound.
• Membranophones: a stretched skin vibrates, as in drums.
• Chordophones: strings vibrate.
• Aerophones: a column of air vibrates.

Which are the major African musical instruments?

The major African instruments are shown below by class, with their origin, description, playing method, uses and sound.

Idiophones

Idiophones are instruments that make sound when their own body is struck, shaken or scraped.

Membranophones

Membranophones are instruments that make sound when a stretched skin or membrane vibrates.

Chordophones

Chordophones are instruments that make sound when stretched strings vibrate.

Aerophones

Aerophones are instruments that make sound when a column of air inside them vibrates.

How do African instruments differ by region?

Each region of Africa has typical instruments that match its culture and surroundings.

Why are African instruments important in culture?

African instruments have four main cultural functions: communication, religious, social and political.

• Communication: talking drums send messages, horns announce arrivals and drums signal gatherings.
• Religious: instruments connect people with ancestors, invoke deities, accompany rituals and create a sacred atmosphere.
• Social: instruments mark life changes such as births and weddings, accompany dances, entertain at gatherings and support work songs.
• Political: instruments provide royal court music, war drums, symbols of leadership and a sense of national identity.

How can we make simple African instruments?

You can make simple versions of African instruments from cheap, everyday materials.

Shaker (shekere substitute)

Materials: plastic bottle, rice or beans, decorations.

1. Fill the bottle one-third full with rice.
2. Seal the bottle tightly.
3. Decorate the outside.
4. Practise rhythms.

Rain stick

Materials: cardboard tube, nails, rice.

1. Insert nails in a spiral pattern (ask your teacher to help with the nails).
2. Seal one end.
3. Add rice.
4. Seal the other end.
5. Tilt the tube to create the rain sound.

Thumb piano (mbira substitute)

Materials: wood block, metal strips, screws.

1. Attach the metal strips to the wood with screws.
2. Tune each strip by adjusting its length.
3. Pluck the strips with your thumbs.
4. Create patterns.

What are the main playing techniques?

Playing techniques are the ways players use their hands and rhythms to shape the sound of African instruments.

Hand positions (for drums)

• Open palm: gives deep bass sounds.
• Fingers: give high tones.
• Slap: gives sharp sounds.
• Muted strike: hand stays on the skin to cut the sound short.

Rhythm patterns

• Call and response: one player or group plays a phrase and another answers.
• Polyrhythm: several different rhythms are played at the same time.
• Syncopation: stress falls on beats that are normally weak.
• Cross-rhythm: two rhythms with different beat patterns are played together.

Ensemble playing

An ensemble is a group of musicians playing together.

• Listening skills: each player listens to the others.
• Tempo: the group keeps a steady speed.
• Lead drummer: the group follows the lead drummer.
• Conversation: players answer one another with their rhythms.

How are African instruments used today?

African instruments are still played in traditional settings and are now used in many modern forms of music.

• Fusion music: African instruments are blended with Afrobeat, jazz, electronic music and world music collaborations.
• Contemporary uses: recording studios, concert performances, music education and therapy.
• Innovations: electric versions, synthetic materials, digital sampling and hybrid instruments.

How do we care for musical instruments?

Caring for an instrument means storing it safely, cleaning it often and repairing it early.

Storage

• Dry place: keep instruments in a dry environment.
• Proper cases: use cases or covers to protect them.
• Temperature control: keep them away from extreme heat or cold.
• Moisture protection: damp can harm wood, skin and strings.

Cleaning

• Dusting: dust instruments regularly.
• Oiling: use proper oils on wooden parts.
• Skin conditioning: look after drum skins so they do not dry out.
• Strings: replace worn strings.

Repairs

• Preventive maintenance: regular checks stop small faults becoming big ones.
• Professional restoration: a skilled repairer mends serious damage.
• Methods: repairers use both traditional and modern techniques.

What careers are linked to African instruments?

Careers linked to African instruments fall into three areas: performance, education, and craft and support work.

Where can students learn more about African instruments?

Students can learn from local masters and from modern resources.

• Local masters: community elders, traditional musicians, cultural centres and music schools.
• Modern resources: online tutorials, video lessons, music apps and digital archives.

Evaluation

1. Name the four classes of African musical instruments.
2. Explain how idiophones and membranophones produce sound.
3. Give two examples each of chordophones and aerophones.
4. State the origin and one use of the talking drum, the udu and the kakaki.
5. List three cultural functions of African musical instruments.

Assignment

Choose one Nigerian instrument from the lesson (shekere, udu, talking drum, bata drums, algaita, kakaki or oja). Write five sentences about it, stating its class, origin, description, how it is played and one of its uses.