In Africa, drums hold a deeper, symbolic, and historical significance. They herald political and social events, form conferences to rallied, birth to death, courtship to marriage but most importantly durbars where they accompany religious rites and rituals.
African music relies heavily on fast-paced, upbeat rhythmic drum playing found all over the continent. In West Africa, the drum is the sign of life and its beat is the heartbeat of every community.
In Ghana, drums have remained significant for decades. They have served as a medium of communication which was used by ’gongo beaters to announce to the people a communique from the chief. Drums are classed as membranophones and consist of skin or “drumhead” stretched over the open end of a frame or “shell”. They are used as an alarm or a call to arms as well as stirring up emotions for battle and war. They can also inspire passion and excitement and even cause trances, a momentary loss of consciousness to either the drummer or the listener.
Drums symbolize and protect royalty and are often housed in sacred dwellings and are protected during battle. On the other hand, drums are about communication and making music.
Some popular Ghanaian drums include the Djembe and the Talking drum. Let take a look at some drums in Ghana and what they are associated with. Adowa drum which is made up of Fomtomfrom, Atumpan, and Apentema to compliment the great Adowa dance. Other drums in Ghana include Ashiko, Dondo, Atsimevu, Bongolo, Brékete/Gungon, Conga, Djembe among others.
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