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Gourd Instruments

My love of music inspires me to make Shekeres, (pronounced SHEK-er-ays; which is the plural of Shekere) which are African percussion instruments.  "Shekere" is a general name to describe a beaded gourd rattle.   It comes in many shapes and sizes, is played in a variety of styles, and has many different names throughout the world.  Throughout Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands, the Caribbean and the Americas, gourds are used as resonators for musical instruments. The Shekere and/or drum are often used in religious ceremonies throughout many of the world’s cultures.  Shekeres among the Yoruba of Nigeria are often connected with religion, given great respect, and play a very important role in certain traditional musical forms. 

My interest in the religion and theology of other cultures guides me to make other musical instruments such as the Mayan Kayum drum which is similar to the African Djembe.  Kayum is the Mayan god of music.  It is thought to be over 2000 years old.  The drum made from mud, is used by the Lacandon groups of the state of Chiapas, Mexico.  In researching the history of drums for ceremonial purposes, I found that in many Native American cultures the drum was used as an ‘axis mundi’ or as a connection from this physical world to the spirit world beyond.  I respect this spiritual nature when creating drums and Shekeres from gourds.