Improving African Futures Using Lessons from the Past

Top view of two calabash drums, Boase, 2018


Description:
Calabash drums accompany songs sung by Nafana women during the celebration of puberty (Manaa Ndiom) and marriage (Bijam) rites. These drums are played exclusively by women. The drums are made by filling a large hollowed-out calabash or gourd (chrɛ in Nafaanra) with water. A smaller calabash bowl (chrɛgbɔɔ in Nafaanra) floating upright in the water provides the surface on which the women drum. The small calabash ladles resting in the water are used to beat the up-turned floating calabash bowls and the rim of the large calabash. Visible at the bottom of the larger calabash drum are maize (bleju in Nafaanra) kernels tossed into the drum by passing dancers. Among the kernels are several pesewa coins also tossed in by dancers. Two views. Boase, 11 November, 2018.
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
Publisher:
University of Victoria Libraries
Relation:
https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-17353 ; https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-17123 ; https://exhibits.library.uvic.ca/spotlight/iaff/catalog/17-17122
Location(s) Facet:
Boase
Subjects:
Bijam; Manaa Ndiom
Subjects Facet:
Gourd, Calabash; Puberty rites; Drums (musical instrument); Marriage customs and rites; Music; Rites and ceremonies
Creator:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Contributors:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Date searchable:
2018
Date searchable:
2018-11-11
Genre:
Digital image
Genre Facet:
Digital image
Format:
Image
Location(s):
Boase;8.018356, -2.298013
People Facet:
Dr. Ann B. Stahl
Geographic Coordinates:
8.018356, -2.298013