The average Ghanaian loves the sound of his drum, when we hear the sound of our drums, inwardly, it moves us.
Unfortunately, although we love our drums, the majority of us cannot tell the drums apart with regards to their names and what they are used for. Below are the names of the various Ghanaian drums.
1. Fontomfrom
These high-quality, imposing drums are carved from the Tweneboa wood, a resonant, somewhat plentiful preferred drum-making wood in Ghana. The skins are stretched over the tops of the drum shells and fastened with strong pegs that fit snugly in the drum shell. The tall fontomfrom drum has a thunderous sound (the drum sound imitates its name) that, played correctly, can be heard from a long distance.
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2. Apetia
The Apetia is the baby drum—played with two sticks, it is tuned to make a bright repetitive sound. Measurement, design, and availability of specific styles and sizes may vary slightly.
3. Apentema
The sound of the Apentema again imitates its name. Tonal wise, it may compare to some congas and is played with the hands or sticks.
4. Atumpan
Timbre-wise, Atumpans are more mid-range and complement the bass Fontomfroms well. Both of these types of drums are covered with a medium to heavy cow skin.
5. Ashiko
The Ashiko drum is a tapered cylindrical hand or stick-played drum with similar variations used in many regions of Africa. Very common in the Eastern region of Ghana and made from goat or cow hide.
6. Bongolo
The Bongolo drums are a unique ceremonial or ritual drums and headed with thick cow skin. It has three feet carved into the shell (forming its own built-in rugged drum stand). Has a small sound opening to enhance sub-audio bass and could be construed between a dundun and a conga, and is playable by hands or using sticks or mallets.
7. Brekete
This style drum is common to many cultures, this particular type of drum is played in Ghana. For its relative size, this drum can make a powerful, thunderous sound. It is constructed with a cloth covered hand-carved wood shell, with a goat skin stretched across each end. There is a thin leather snare string (removable) that gives this drum its distinctive “African buzzing timbre”. Shoulder strap and curved playing stick are included.
8. Djembe
This is one of the most common drums in Ghana and popular among students who play “Jama”. The drum has a large tonal range for a single, fairly simple made drum, and this blends well to many different situations.
9. Dondo
The Dondo is a variable-pitch drum played with a curved stick by squeezing it under the player’s arm.
10. Sogo
The Sogo drums are special drums among the Ewe people in Ghana and it’s a part of a set of drums for the Agbadza dance.
11. Kidi
The Kidi drum is also an Ewe drum and complements the Sogo in the Agbadza ensemble.
12. Kagan
The Kagan is also an Ewe drum and forms part of the set of Ewe traditional dance drums.
13. Atsimevu
The Atsimevu is another drum that forms part of the Agbadza set of drums.
14. Boba
The Boba drum is also another unique self-tuned drum of the Ewe people.
15. Kroboto
The Kroboto which is also an Ewe drum and forms part of the Agbadza set of drums is carved from a solid piece of wood for low maintenance use.
16. Totodzi
The Totodzi drum together with all the drums mentioned above, form part of the Agbadza set of drums and are sturdier with a more robust tuning system and better-fitted skins & pegs; they are pre-tuned —virtually no maintenance is required.
17. Kpanlogo Drums
The Kpanlogo drums are a conga-shaped peg-tuned drum headed with antelope skin. A staple of Ghanaian percussion, this versatile drum can be played with sticks and/or hands. Produces a warm, full, semi-conga-like tone that is a proud hallmark of many traditional Ghana rhythm styles.
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18. Gudugudu
The Gudugudu is a small wood bowl drum played with two long thin rawhide sticks. Tuning paste on head enables two-pitch effect. Tuned by hammering wooden wedges between the bottom metal ring and the drum’s base. Hand-carved, hence dimensions are approximate.
19. Kete Drums
The Kete drums are a handsome set of four drums from the Ashanti region decorated with characteristic red and black checkerboard cloth. Large drum (kwadum or kwedun) is headed with cow skin; others are headed with antelope skin.
20. Talking Drums
Talking drums are a large set of two drums mainly used to resonate the speech of the King or a dignitary during occasions and events. It comes with two crooked-shaped sticks.
In Ghana, we say waakye is bae. Read: 11 Struggles We All Have To Endure Just To Get A Bowl Of Waakye
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