Description
Shekere is a general name that refers to beaded gourd rattles that originated in Africa. They come in many shapes and sizes, are played in a variety of styles, and have many different names. In Africa they are found primarily in West Africa in the countries of Nigeria, Togo, Ghana, Benin, Sierra Leone and Côte d'Ivoire. They are usually played as background rhythm instruments during musical performances. When West African slaves arrived in the Americas, they brought many of their musical traditions with them. As a result, many different forms of shekere continue to be played in the Americas as well as in the Caribbean today.
Image
Artifacts
