Store Categories
Shop by Price
Customer Service
Join our Newsletter
First Name:

Last Name:

E-Mail Address:
  
  Home » Articles »

The Ashiko Drum – African Antiquity


By: Claudia

The Ashiko drum is just one of many African drums, made and played by generations for many centuries. They are reckoned to be amongst the oldest percussion instruments in the world. They are played with the bare hands and sound similar to their equally well-known cousins, the djembe drums. Ashikos are made by gluing together sticks to form a cylindrical shape, over which is stretched goatskin or similar material. They are therefore not prone to cracking as do some of the monolignic shapes found extensively in other African drums. They tend to be lighter as well. The Ashiko drum falls into the category of frame drums and is easily recognised by its conical shape and distinctive sound.

 

 

It is generally believed that the Ashiko drum originated in Nigeria but it is widely seen in South and Latin America and very much in Cuba where it is played at carnivals and street parades. It allows you to focus on the rhythm and being quite a tall drum, is convenient to play while you are sitting. It blends well with other instruments and is usually played alongside wind and string instruments, in bands or with other drums offering a greater tonal range.

 

 

They are generally made of hardwood, rosewood or mango and because of their structure are not as prone to cracking caused by changes in humidity. Their contribution to African and Latin American music cannot be overstated and if you want to own a significant piece of musical history you cannot do much better than buy an authentic African Ashiko drum. They have been in existence for many centuries and are just as popular today. They occupy a unique place in musical tradition and feature highly on collectors’ lists of desirable, must-have instruments. It is quite easy to obtain modern reproductions, some of which are made of synthetic materials and while they look and sound okay, there is no real equivalent of an authentic African Ashiko, craft in the traditional wood and made by the skilled craftsmen who lovingly produce these instruments, almost with a religious fervour.

 

 

Investigate these amazing drums which have defied the passing of time and the trends and whims of generations and remain as highly sought after today as ever. They have earned prominent recognition and an unrivalled place in tradition. If you are genuinely fanatical about valuable instruments, then we point you to Ashiko drums, the sound of Africa, as different and distinct as that great continent.