Bara (drum)
The bara (also called bendré)[1] is a spherical hand drum with a body made from a dried gourd or calabash, used in West Africa (primarily Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire,[1] and Mali).[1] Its single head is made of goatskin.[2] To make the drum, a dried gourd is cut on one end and a single head made of goatskin is stretched across the opening.[2] Bara drums come in various sizes, some quite large. The instrument is often used to accompany the balafon.[3]
The bara has been used in the music of the Malian musicians Yaya Diallo and Habib Koité.[4]
