Engoma drums

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Ngoma (pronounced en-go-mah) is an African drum. This same style of drum is still being played in Southern Africa by the descendants of Queen Marimba today. She created many of Africas’ first instruments, such as the Marimba (named after the queen herself), Karimba (which is known by many names, including Karimba (Kalimba), Sansa, Marimba, Likembe, Nadimba, etc.) the world’s first portable keyboard, Chipendani (the mouthbow, also known as Berimbau in Brazil) and of course Ngoma (the drum), thousands of years ago.

The original Ngoma was created from an old mortar that was worn all the way through by Queen Marimbas’ cook. Queen Marimba took this mortar and attached an animal skin to the top of it creating the world’s first drum. Queen Marimbas’ direct descendants are the Wakamba people of East Africa, who live just south of Mwanza Nyanza (Lake Victoria). Over the years there have been numerous various peoples of Africa have moved in and out of this area and have taken their culture with them, while also transporting the Wakamba culture throughout East and Central Africa. Today the word Ngoma means drum in a huge area of the African continent in numerous languages. The shape of the drums will vary, but the name remains the same.

The Baganda people of Uganda have a special relationship with Ngoma, so much so that it is thought by many people that theirs is the country where this type of drum actually originated. The Baganda are fondly thought of as the children of Ngoma. The Ngoma is used for communication and celebration and is also a symbol of authority.

The Baganda Engoma are made of wood, which is covered with cow skin on both ends, although you’ll also find tourist versions of these drums covered with zebra skins. Typically, they are played in groups of 7 each drum having its own voice and function within the ensemble. Another popular configuration is made with at least 4 drums. Each of these drums are treated as individuals, thus they each have a specific name. The largest drum is known as Bakisimba and makes a loud bass sound. The Empuunya is a little smaller and also produces a higher pitched bass sound. The Nankasa is a small drum played with sticks and produces a very high pitched sound. Last, but not least is the Engalabi. The Engalabi most closely resembles the original Ngoma and is taller and more cylindrical than all the other drums in this set. It also has skin on only one side. All of the other drums are covered with cow skin on the top and bottom using an intricate lacing system, whereas the Engalabi has a lizard-skin head attached with small wooden pegs. This drum makes a very high pitched sound compared to all the other drums in the ensemble.

All of the drums can be played with sticks or hands, except the Nankasa which is primarily played with sticks. The Children of Uganda, AIDS orphans from the Daughters of Charity Orphange, have been touring the world biennially since 1996 and are the most representative proponents of the music of Uganda, outside of the African continent. Their music and dance presentations reveal the cultural traditions of their country, as well as the trials and travails of modern life in East Africa today. They play a variety of traditional instruments from Uganda, including Engoma, Amadinda (Marimba or Xylophone), Obuuti (sticks for Amadinda and Engoma), Akogo (Marimba or Karimba type instrument), Andugu (bow harp or lute), Edinqidi (tube fiddle), Endere (pan pipe).

[edit] References

• New York: John Day: "My People, My Africa", by Credo Mutwa Vusa'Mazulu (1969)

[edit] Recordings

• Columbia Records #######: Drums of Passion (1958). Liner notes by Akinsola Akiwowo (1958).

[edit] External links

• childrenofuganda
• amadinda a website that includes a tutorial on how to play baakisimba on drums from Uganda
• africaonline a website containing comprehensive information about the African continent]