Indigenous Musical Instruments Across Major Tribes in Nigeria
Musical instruments portray the diversity of the Nigerian lifestyle, weather, trade, culture and traditions. The distinctions in trade, tradition, social lifestyle and environment are blended into a dynamic music culture in Nigeria.
The natural resources got from different regions are used to create unique musical instruments that resonate with the dynamism and richness of the Nigerian traditional music. The lush vegetation of southern Nigeria for example makes it easier for the people to create huge wooden musical instruments, with materials got from their forest. Likewise, the skin of properly grazed cattle in northern Nigeria are used as local material to create string instruments such as Goge, and bows that aid the melody of those string instruments.
On today’s Saturday small chops, we bring you some fascinating local musical instruments across the major tribes in Nigeria and their unique roles in our music tradition.
Kakaki
Kakaki is regarded as a royal-blowing instrument exclusively played by men in the Hausa society. It is a four-meter-long metal trumpet producing a loud sound that spreads through long distances. The instrument consists of a straight metal tube made from welding five sections together. The Kakaki is a prestigious local trumpet associated with royalty. It is exclusively blown during ceremonies for the royal heads such as the Emirs and Sultans in Hausa society, to create an additional melody to their traditional ceremonial music. Kakaki is also vital in certain religious ceremonies and festivals in the north, such as Turbanning the Emir and the popular Argungu festival.
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Ekwe
Ekwe is an Igbo traditional musical instrument made from hardwood. The drum is carved with a rectangular cavity slit in the hollowed-out wooden interior. Historically, Ekwe serves as a talking drum for communicating emergencies such as war, restriction of movement, special announcements or important celebration. Sometimes, Ekwe can be used for cultural events or for music celebrations. Ekwe is carved in a variety of designs and sizes, which mostly determines its purpose. Smaller sixes of the drum produce sharper pitches while the larger ones produce deep bass tones. Its playing technique is quite simple and gentle – the Ekwe drum is played with either a plain straight wooden stick or a rubber-tippled mallet.
Ṣẹ̀kẹ̀rẹ̀
Ṣẹ̀kẹ̀rẹ̀ is a percussion instrument popular in different parts of Nigeria, especially in the Yoruba society. The instrument consists of a dried shiny gourd with colourful beads or cowries woven into a net and worn on the gourd. Ṣẹ̀kẹ̀rẹ̀ is used to complement musical sounds during religious worships, traditional ceremonies and cultural dance performances. It is made from vine gourd dried for several months. The instrument comes in different shapes which mostly determines its sounds. Ṣẹ̀kẹ̀rẹ̀ can also be found in other West African countries and Latin American traditions.
Which of these musical instruments do you find most appealing? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section.