List of Caribbean membranophones

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Conga drums are a common part of Caribbean music across much of the areas Congas.JPG
Conga drums are a common part of Caribbean music across much of the areas

This is a list of membranophones used in the Caribbean music area, including the islands of the Caribbean Sea, as well as the musics of Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Belize, Garifuna music, and Bermuda. It only includes membranophones that are indigenous to the local music area or are a vital and long-standing part of local culture. It does not include membranophones that are, for example, a part of Western style orchestras, nor does it include trap sets and other common membranophones used in popular music recordings of many genres across the world. Almost all membranophones are drums and percussion instruments. [1] [2]

The Hornbostel-Sachs number is given after each instrument. [3]

InstrumentTraditionHornbostel–Sachs classificationDescription
agbeSee chekere-
agida [4] [5]
Suriname 211.212Afro-Surinamese bass drum that sets a steady beat for folk music, played with a stick, of the set with apinti and tumao, pitch can be varied based on the location of the head struck, made from hollow logs with heads of skin, used in spiritual ceremonies, where it is associated with snake spirits
aketeSee kété-
alcagüeteSee alcahuete-
alcahuete [6] [7]
alcagüete
Dominican Republic 211.211.2-7One of the smaller drums used in the ensembles called palos, of the Afro-Dominican religious ceremonies, played either in pairs or trios, with single skin heads either pegged or tacked
ameléSee okónkolo-
apinti [4] [5]
Suriname 211.211.2Principal Afro-Surinamese drum of the set with agida and tumao, tenor drum, decorated with carvings, and used for communication by Surinamese slaves and for religious purposes in connection with sky and ancestor spirits, pitch can be varied based on the location of the head struck, made from hollow logs with heads of skin
arobapá [8] [9]
endóga
Cuba 211.21-814Drum used in Afro-Cuban Abakuá societies, small enkomo drum of the biankomeko ensemble, along with the kuchiyeremá and biapá, and the taller bonkó enchemiyá
assotor [10]
Haiti 211.211.25-to-6-foot-tall (1.5 to 1.8 m) cylindrical drum with three windows near the base so the drummer (or pair of drummers) can play it easily, decorated with brightly colored kerchiefs (foulas)
atabalesSee palos-
baboula [11] [12]
Grenada 211.221.1Open-bottomed, goatskin-headed, made from barrels or tree trunks, smaller partner of the tambou, used in the belair dance
balaban [13] [14]
jumbie drum
Montserrat 211.311Small goatskin frame drum, played with the back of the hand, front of the fingers and the palm, used to attract spirits for the jumbie dance
balsié [15]
Dominican Republic 2Small double-headed drum, used in merengue only in the south of the country
bamboula [16]
Virgin Islands 211.211.2Played by two drummers, one using two sticks and the other hands and feet, used in dance genre of the same name ( bamboula )
banduSee kbandu-
bari [17] [18] [19]
Bonaire and Curaçao 211.22Single-headed, made from a wooden barrel, often from the herring industry, with a skin frame, played two-handed
barrel drum [9]
Cuba 211.222.2-7Barrel drum variant of a batá drum, often with the system of lacing replaced by nailing the heads to the drum, most common in Matanzas Province
barriles [20]
buleador, primo, repicador, subidor
Puerto Rico 211.221.2 Barrel drums, covered with lightly stretched skins, consists of large buleador drums and smaller subidor drums, used in bomba
bas a dé fas, tambou [21]
Guadeloupe 211.212.2Bass drum, double-headed, played with sticks, used in Carnival, specifically mizik a mas Byé Fò
bas a yon fas, tambou [21] [22]
Guadeloupe 211.221-7Bass barrel drum, one-headed, laced, and played with sticks, used in Carnival, specifically mizik a mas a Sen Jan
bas, tambou di [22] [23] [24] [25]
boula, tambou dibass, tambou dibas, tambou bas
Martinique and Guadeloupe 211.311Small frame drum played with both striking and rubbing, used in indoor music, and quadrilles, ladja and gwo ka , and in the Tamil music of Indo-Caribbean Martinique
bas, tambouSee foulé, tambou-
bas, tambouSee bas, tambou di-
bas, tambouSee bas a yon fas, tambou-
base, tambou diSee bas, tambou di-
bass drum [26]
Antigua and Barbuda 211.211.2Bass drum, accompaniment to stilt dancers and Christmas music
bass drum [27]
Barbados 211.212.1Double-headed drum that keeps the ground rhythm and is slung across the drummers' shoulder, used in tuk bands
bass drum [11]
Grenada 211.212.1Double-headed bass drum, played with a hard stick in one hand for the lower head, and a soft mallet in the other hand for the upper head, used to accompany quadrilles
bass drum [28] [29] [30] [31] [32]
repeater (Maroon only)
Jamaica 211.212.1Double-headed bass drum, carried with a strap and leader of marching bands, played with a covered stick in Nyabinghi ceremonies, used in marching bands, and Rastafarian and Maroon music
bass tumbadora [33]
true conga
Cuba 211.22.2Largest barrel-shaped hand drum of the tumbadora family
basse [10]
Haiti 211.311Goatskin-headed tambourine, used in secular music
batá drums [9] [34]
Cuba 211.26-813Family of three drums: iyá, itótele and okónkolo, used in Lucumi religious rites, all goblet-shaped and with two goatskin heads called tcha-tchás, sometimes with a nut inside (coco-Africano), both for aural and spiritual reasons
batta [35]
Guyana 2Afro-Guyanese bass drum, used in folk music traditions
baydum [36]
Indo-Trinidadian 211.212.1Double-headed bass drum, used in Muslim Hosay (Hosein) rituals, now widespread among Afro-Trinidadians and others
bélé [22] [23] [24] [37]
Martinique 211.251.2-91(+22)Single-headed, open-bottomed conical drum with a hole in the barrel and a goatskin head, stretched by a rope hoop, wrapped in more rope, used in all African-derived Martinican dances and as a symbol of Afro-Martinican identity, including tambour bélé , kalenda , and danmyé , also used to synchronize collective labor in northern Martinique, and is a part of most Martinican rural work songs, uses a plucking string in the northern region
bélé, tambou [38]
Dominica 211.221.2-86+22Single-headed barrel drum, covered at one end by goatskin, stretched with rope and pegs, and played barehanded, accompanies bélé , features a plucked strings across the head
bélé, tambouSee ka-
bemba [36]
bembe
Trinidad and Tobago 211.212.2Cylindrical drums with double skins, smallest of the set with conga and oumalay drums
bembeSee bemba-
bench drumSee gumbe-
biankomeko [8] [9]
Cuba
-
Afro-Cuban Abakuá drum ensemble, consisting of four drums: bonkó enchemiyá and enkomo: biapá, arobapá, and kuchiyeremá
biapá [8] [9]
tétendóga
Cuba 211.21-814Small enkomo drum of the biankomeko ensemble, along with the biapá, arobapá, and kuchiyeremá, and the taller bonkó enchemiyá
Big Drum [39] [40]
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Carriacou (Grenada) and Saint Kitts and Nevis
-
Music and dance ritual, which includes drums traditionally made of tree trunks, now often of rum kegs
bigi doonSee gaan doon-
biola [9]
Cuba 211.321Unstrung banjo with a drumhead attached
bomba [41]
Puerto Rico 211.221.2Barrel-shaped bass drum, used in genre of the same name ( bomba )
bombos [9]
Cuba 211.212.1European-style bass drum, used in comparsa , a pre-Easter procession
boncóSee bonkó enchemiyá-
bongo [9] [33] [35] [41] [42] [43]
Cuba 211.211.1Drums of unequal size played in a pair and held between the knees, originally used in Cuban folk music of various kinds, also used in music of Puerto Rico and across the area, especially Guyana
bonkó enchemiyá [8]
bonko enchemi, bonko, boncó
Cuba 211.21-814Largest drum of the biankomeko ensemble, along with the enkomo: biapá, arobapá, and kuchiyeremá
bonkoSee bonkó enchemiyá-
bonko enchemiSee bonkó enchemiyá-
boomSee kettle-
boom boomSee keg-
boula [21] [22] [23] [25] [37]
Guadeloupe 211.221.2Single-headed hand drum, similar to tambou bèlè and played transversally and single-handed, produces lower sounds and the basic rhythms of the music, used in gwo ka , Carnival, wrestling matches and wakes
boula [11] [12] [44]
tambou dibas, bulla, bula
Carriacou 211.221.2Hand drum, formerly made of barrels, now more often rum casks; narrower and lower-tuned cousin of the kata, used in the Big Drum tradition, barrel contains a hole on the side, skin is stretched by a hoop wrapped in cloth
boula [10] [45]
bula
Haiti 211.221.2-7Cowskin hand drum, with the head pegged in place around a decorative collar, used in rada along with segon and manman drums
boula [36]
Trinidad and Tobago 211.222-92Double-headed barrel drum, played open handed, drum heads attached with hoops, accompanies kalenda stick fighting
bulaSee boula (Carriacou, Haiti)-
bullaSee boula (Carriacou)-
buleador [20]
primo, repicador, burlador
Puerto Rico 211.221.2Larger, barrel-shaped hand drums, covered with tight animal skin stretched using pegs, used in bomba
burladorSee buleador-
cachimbo [44] [46]
Cuba 211.211.2Smallest yuka tubular drum, along with caja and mula
caja [44] [46]
Cuba 211.211.2Largest yuka tubular drum, along with cachimbo and mula, played by two people, one striking the bass and the other hitting the body with a pair of sticks
castSee playing cast-
chan, tambou [22]
Guadeloupe 2Small and high pitched drums, played with sticks, used in Carnival, specifically mizik a mas a Sen Jan
circularSee snare drum (Jamaica)-
conga [9] [37] [42] [43] [47]
tumbadora, tumba, requinto, quinto, ricardo, niño, supertumba, super quinto, tres golpes, salidor, true conga
Originally Cuban, now found throughout the Caribbean, especially Puerto Rico, Haiti and the Dominican Republic 211.221.1-7Tall, narrow and single-headed barrel drum, open at the bottom, played by congueros, traditionally wood, now often fiberglass, animal-skin heads can be tuned; also used in popular genres from salsa to ripsaw
congaSee petwo-
conga [35] [36]
Trinidad and Tobago 211.212.2Cylindrical drums with double skins, middle-sized drum of the set with bembe and oumalay drums; since introduced to Guyana
conga [15]
Dominican Republic 211.212.2Cylindrical folk drums
conguito [15]
Dominican Republic 211.212.2Cylindrical folk drums with a low bass tone, smaller version of the conga
cotSee kata-
cotchíerimaSee kuchiyeremá-
cut drumSee kata-
cutter [36]
Trinidad and Tobago 211.221-92Single-headed barrel drum, played open handed, drum heads attached with hoops, accompanies kalenda stick fighting
cutterSee kata-
débonda, tambou [22] [24]
doumbedoum
Guadeloupe and Martinique 211.222.1Double-headed barrel drum, used in chouval bwa and Carnival music
dholak [36] [48]
Indo-Caribbean 211.212.1Double-headed drum, used in chutney
dibas, tambouSee bas, tambou di-
dibass, tambouSee bas, tambou di-
djembe [37]
Guadeloupe 211.261.2Skin-covered hand drum, goblet-shaped and played bare-handed, used in gwo ka moderne
doumbedoumSee dèbonda, tambou-
dup [11]
Grenada 211.221.2Bass drum made from a cardboard barrel, used in parang
ekué [49] [50]
ecue
Cuba 231.13-814Single-headed three-legged friction drum used in Abakuá ceremonies, played by rubbing a stick over the membrane, which is attached using wedges whose tightness can be modified
enómoSee enkomo-
endógaSee arobapá-
enkoSee enkomo-
enkomo [8] [9]
enko, enómo
Cuba 211.21-814Small cylindrical, or slightly tapered, goatskin-headed drums of the biankomeko ensemble, consisting of three types: biapá, arobapá, and kuchiyeremá
foulé, tambou [22]
French Guiana 211.221.2-92Large barrel drum, used in Creole instrumental ensembles and kaseko , plays a basic rhythm accompanied by the tambou koupé, head typically made of goatskin, attached with a vine or iron hoop
French drumSee hun-
French reel [13] [14]
jumbie drum, woowoo
Montserrat 211.311Goatskin frame drum, played with the back of the hand, front of the fingers and the palm, used to attract spirits for the jumbie dance
funde [29] [30] [31] [51]
fundeh
Jamaica 211.211.1Cylindrical drum, one-headed, held between players' legs and performed by tapping with the hand or fingers, originally used in Burru cult rituals, now also common in Nyabinghi ceremonies
funde [35]
Guyana 211.21Afro-Guyanese cylindrical drum
fundehSee funde-
gaan doon [22]
French Guiana 2Large bass drum that leads dances, used by the Alukuó Maroons
ganbo [10]
Haiti 211.211.1Bamboo stomping tubes, sometimes played in groups
gombaySee gumbe-
gombey [52] [53]
Bermuda 211.211.2Afro-Bermudan drum, related to the Bahamian goombay , used in the genre of the same name (gombey)
gonde [45]
Haiti 211.251.2-7Cowskin hand drum, played with a hand and a bow, in a set with katabo and tambou manman
goombahSee gumbe-
goombay [47] [54]
Bahamas and Turks and Caicos 211.211.2-7Goatskin-headed drum traditionally made from improvised materials (especially discarded barrels), goatskin is tuned by heating it with a candle and attached with nails, used in the Bahamian genre of the same name (goombay)
goombaySee gumbe-
goombeySee gumbe-
gragé, tambou [22]
French Guiana 211.3Frame drum, used in Creole dance accompaniment for a dance of the same name (gragé)
groskaSee gwo ka-
gumbaySee gumbe-
gumbe [32] [55] [56]
gumbay, goombeh, goombah, goombay, gombay, bench drum
French Guiana and Jamaica 211.31Small Maroon-derived goatskin square-framed drum, introduced to Sierra Leone
gumbaySee gumbe-
gwo ka [21] [23] [37]
also used synonymously with ka
Guadeloupe
-
Family of hand drums, used in lewoz and other traditions, as well as zouk
harp [29]
Jamaica
-
Generic term for drums used in ceremonies called grounations ; these include the bass drum, funde and kété
hun [9]
French drums
Cuba
-
Family of four drums used in the Haitian-Cuban Arada ceremonies, consisting of hugán, xumpé, hun-hogúlo and huní
hugán [9]
French drum
Cuba 211.22-861Largest of the four drums used in the Haitian-Cuban Arada ceremonies, along with xumpé, hun-hogúlo and huní
hun-hogúlo [9]
French drum
Cuba 211.22-861Second-smallest of the four drums used in the Haitian-Cuban Arada ceremonies, along with hugán, xumpé and huní
huní [9]
French drum
Cuba 211.22-861Smallest of the four drums used in the Haitian-Cuban Arada ceremonies, along with hugán, xumpé and hun-hogúlo
ich, tambou [57]
Saint Lucia 2Smaller drum used in Kélé rituals, literally child drum
ikónkoloSee okónkolo-
itótele [9] [34]
Cuba 211.26-813Intermediate-sized batá goblet-shaped drum, made of wood and covered with skin, along with the iyá and okónkolo; wax-like substance called ida or fardela sometimes used to produce a duller sound
iyá [9] [34]
Cuba 211.26-813Largest batá goblet-shaped drum, made of wood and covered with goatskin, along with the itótele and okónkolo; red wax-like substance called ida or fardela is used to produce a duller sound, wrapped with bells and belts (chaguoro or tchaworo)
juba [10]
martinique
Haiti 211.21-92Shorter and squatter variety of petwo
jumbie drumSee French reel, balaban-
ka [21] [23] [24] [25]
also used synonymously with gwo ka
Guadeloupe and Martinique 211.221Single-headed drums, used in Carnival, specifically mizik a mas a Kongo, made from a barrel with goatskin heads tighted by cord
ka [57]
Saint Lucia 211.221Barrel drum with a goatskin head, used in various folk forms, including chanté siay, jwé dansé and jwé gém
kaSee tambou-
kanmougé, tambou [22]
French Guiana 211.211.1Open-bottomed and single-headed drum, played transversally and carved from a single fragment of wood, used in Creole dance accompaniment for kanmougé and mayouri dances, played in pairs with the lead called the "female" type and the support the "male"
kata [11] [12] [44]
cut drum, cutter, cot
Carriacou 211.211.2Hand drum, formerly made of barrels, now more often rum casks; wider and higher-tuned cousin of the boula, used in the Big Drum tradition, barrel contains a hole on the side, skin is stretched by a hoop wrapped in cloth
katabo [45]
Haiti 211.251.2-7Cowskin hand drum, played with two sticks, in a set with gonde and tambou manman
kbandu [51] [58] [59]
bandu
Jamaica 211.211.1+111.231Large, low-pitched, plays a 4/4 rhythm, covered with a goat skin, used in Kumina ceremonies, where it plays a steady rhythm, and is often used several at a time, open end sometimes banged with sticks
keg [16]
boom boom
Virgin Islands 211.212.1Double-headed bass drum, used in masquerades and fife and drum ensembles
kété [28] [29] [30] [31]
akete
Jamaica 211.21Small skinny cylindrical drum, improvised, used in Nyabinghi celebrations, played with bare hands, also used in dub poetry
kettle [13]
boom
Montserrat 211.221Goatskin deep-barreled drum, used in Carnival and other celebrations
kettle drum [26]
Antigua and Barbuda 211.11Kettle drum, accompaniment to stilt dancers and Christmas music
kettle drum [52] [53]
Bermuda 211.11Central use in Bermudan traditions, derived from British kettle drum, especially common in gombey
kettle drum [16]
Virgin Islands 211.11Snare drum, used in fife and drum ensembles
Kimbisa drum [9]
Cuba 211–864Tall drum with goatskin head, held in place by cords, wedges and hoops, used in the Kimbisa culture
kinfuiti [43]
Cuba 231.12 Friction drum, single-headed, with a stick inserted and rubbed to produce the sound, used in the Kimbisa tradition
kittle [35]
boom
Guyana 211.11 Kettle drum, used in masquerades
koupé, tambou [22]
French Guiana 211.221.2-92Small barrel drum, used in Creole instrumental ensembles and kaseko , used to improvise for dancing while the tambou foulé plays a basic rhythm, head typically made of goatskin, attached with a vine or iron hoop
kromanti [30]
Jamaica 211.21Cylindrical drum, used by the Maroons of Moore Town
kuchiyeremá [8] [9]
cotchíerima
Cuba 211.21-814Small enkomo drum of the biankomeko ensemble, along with the arobapá and biapá, and the taller bonkó enchemiyá
lapo kabwit [38]
Dominica
-
Any kind of Dominican or Grenadan folk drum
lélé, tambou [38]
Dominica 211.211.2Cylindrical drum, small and wooden with goatskin at one end, strapped across the shoulder and played with two sticks, used in chanté mas
loango [10]
loangue
Haiti 211.21-92Taller and narrower variety of petwo
loangueSee loango-
makéSee markeur-
makutaSee yuka-
makyéSee markeur-
manman, tambou [57]
Saint Lucia 2Larger drum used in Kélé rituals, literally mother drum
mamnan, tambou [10] [45]
Haiti 211.251.2-7Hand drum with a cowhide head, pegged in place and with a decorated collar, used in many Afro-Haitian musics, used in rada , petwo and other folk traditions
marassas [10]
Haiti 211.212.2Cylindrical drum that comes in pairs, traditionally made from wood or a two-gallon container with both top and bottom removed and replaced with heads, played with fingers
markeur [21] [22] [23] [25] [37]
makyé, marqueur, maké
Guadeloupe 211.221.2Single-headed hand drum, small, high-pitched, played upright and one-handed, and held between the legs, interacts with dancers by responding to movement and improvises with the boula drum, used in gwo ka , Carnival, wrestling matches and wakes
marqueurSee markeur-
martiniqueSee juba-
matrimonialSee wacharaca-
mongó [7]
Dominican Republic 211.3Small rural folk handheld frame drum
moyenSee segon-
mula [44] [46]
Cuba 211.211.2Intermediate-sized yuka tubular drum, along with caja and cachimbo
ngomaSee yuka-
niño [33]
Cuba 2Smallest drum of the conga family
Nyabinghi See kété-
okónkolo [9] [34]
ikónkolo, amelé
Cuba 211.26-813Smallest batá goblet-shaped drum, made of wood and covered with skin, along with the itótele and iyá
oumalay [36]
Trinidad and Tobago 211.212.2Cylindrical drums with double skins, middle-sized drum of the set with bembe and conga drums
omeleSee oumalay-
pailas [60]
Dominican Republic 211.12Kettledrum, played in pairs, made from containers used to boil sugarcane juice, with tension lugs to adjust the tightness of the single-head, closed bottom
palo auxiliar [6] [7]
Dominican Republic 211.211.2-7One of the smaller drums used in the ensembles called palos, of the Afro-Dominican religious ceremonies, played either in pairs or trios, with single skin heads either pegged or tacked
palo major [7] [15]
Dominican Republic 211.211.2-7Larger folk long drum made from a tree trunk, used singly in ensembles called palos, of the Afro-Dominican religious ceremonies, played either in pairs or trios, with single skin heads either pegged or tacked
palo menor [7] [15]
Dominican Republic 211.211.2-7Smaller folk long drum made from a tree trunk, used singly in ensembles called palos, of the Afro-Dominican religious ceremonies, played either in pairs or trios, with single skin heads either pegged or tacked
palos [6] [7]
atabale
Dominican Republic 211.211.2-7Ensembles that include a number of drums, include the types of palo and alcahuete, used in the Afro-Dominican religious ceremonies, played either in pairs or trios, with skin heads either pegged or tacked
pandereta [33]
pandero
Puerto Rico 211.3Handheld frame drum, used in plena , adapted from European tambourine
panderoSee pandereta-
panderos [7] [15]
Dominican Republic 211.3Small rural folk handheld frame drum
PétroSee petwo-
petwo [10] [61]
conga, Pétro
Haiti 211.21-92Cylindrical drum headed with cowskin, attached with cords, comes in two varieties: loango and juba
pikin doon [22]
French Guiana 2Medium-sized drum that supports dancers, played in pairs, with one played solo, and both played bare-handed, used among the Alukuó Maroons
playing cast [51] [58] [59]
playin kya, cast
Jamaica 211.211.1+111.231Small, high-pitched, plays complex, syncopated rhythms, covered with a goat skin, used in Kumina, open end sometimes struck with sticks
playin kyaSee playing cast-
podya [4]
Suriname 2Small, skin-covered bass drum, common among the rural Afro-Surinamese
prentingSee kromanti-
primoSee subidor-
pump [27]
Barbados 2Long drum, made from a hollow tree trunk with goat or sheep skin on either end
pump [18]
St Maarten 211.31Goatskin frame drum, sometimes played in pairs or larger groups, usually using both hands
quinto [9] [33]
Cuba 211.221Smallest barrel-shaped hand drum, made out of a box with two sloping sides, of the tumbadora family, plays the most intricate rhythms of the group, not always characterized as a tumbadora or conga drum
rada [61]
Haiti 2Drum headed with cowskin, attached with wooden pegs
ralé [45]
Haiti 2Goatskin drum, used alongside tambou manman, used in petwo and YaYa TiKongo rhythms
rattleSee snare drum (Jamaica)-
repeaterSee bass drum (Jamaica), snare drum (Jamaica)-
repeaterSee kété-
repeater [51]
Jamaica 2Used in the Burru rituals, now imported to Rastafarian music
repicadorSee subidor-
requinto drum [62]
Puerto Rico 211.25Small conical hand drum, improvises over the other drum rhythms, used in plena
ricardoSee conga-
ripsaw drum [47]
Turks and Caicos and Bahamas (Cat Island only)2Goat- or cow-skin drum, heated to produce a pitch
roundSee snare drum (Jamaica)-
Saba drum [18]
Saba 211.22Made from kegs or barrels, and attached to a skin frame secured by wood, rope and pegs
salidorSee conga-
scratch band barrel drum [16]
Virgin Islands 211.222Double-headed barrel drum, used in scratch bands
secondSee segon-
segon [10] [45]
Haiti 211-7Cowskin hand drum with artistic collars, used in rada along with boula and manman drums
segundoSee conga-
side drumSee snare drum-
skratji [63] [64]
Suriname 2Large Afro-Surinamese bass drum with a cymbal on top, used in kaseko
snare drum [52] [53]
Bermuda 211.212.1Central use in Bermudan traditions, generally played in pairs, used in gombey
snare drum [27]
kettle
Barbados 211.212.1Doubled headed side snare drum, used in tuk bands
snare drum [9]
Cuba 211.212.1 Snare drum used in comparsa pre-Easter celebrations
snare drum [28] [30] [32]
side drum, Maroon only: repeater, rattle, round, circular
Jamaica 211.212.1 Snare drum played with wooden sticks, carried with a strap, used in marching bands and Maroon music
snare drum [64]
Suriname 211.212.1 Snare drum, used in kaseko
stave drum [9]
Cuba 211.261.2-813Drum with straight but sloping sides, closest to being a classic goblet drum, variation on a batá drum
subidor [20] [65]
primo, repicador
Puerto Rico 211.22Smaller, barrel-shaped hand drums, covered with tight animal skin, used in bomba
super quintoSee conga-
supertumbaSee conga-
tambora [6] [15] [18] [66]
Dominican Republic originally, now also common on St Maarten 211.222Double-headed barrel drum of African origin, played with a stick on one head and a bare hand on the other
tambou [11]
Grenada and Dominica 211.221.1Open-bottomed, goatskin-headed, made from barrels or tree trunks, larger partner of the baboula, accompanies the belair dance
tambou [23]
Martinique and Guadeloupe
-
Generic term for drums
tambour [67]
Puerto Rico 211.211.2 Long drum, made from a hollowed-out tree trunk and topped with animal skin
tambourine [10]
Haiti 212.211Miniature version of the tymbale, beaten with two sticks
tambú [18] [68]
tambu
Curaçao 211.211.2Long drum, made from a hollow log, used in tambú
tanbouSee tambou-
tanbou [45]
Haiti Barrel drum made from hardwood and topped with animal skin
tassa [36]
Indo-Trinidadian, now commonplace211.11 Kettle drum with a goatskin head, used in the Muslim Hosay (Hosein) ritual
tenbal, tambou [57]
Saint Lucia 211.212.1Snare drum, used in cockfights, séwinal, merry-go-rounds, other celebrations
tenor drum [28]
Jamaica 2Carried with a strap, used in marching bands
tétendógaSee biapá-
timbales [9]
tymbales
Cuba 211.211.1European-derived open-bottomed twin drum, played using sticks
tom [25]
Guadeloupe 211.212.1Cylindrical drum like the tom-tom drum, [played with sticks
tombas [25]
Guadeloupe 211.212.1Bass drum, played with sticks
toombah [26]
tumtum
Antigua and Barbuda 2Small drum, decorated with shells and tin
tres golpesSee conga-
tres por dos [33]
Cuba 211.22Medium-sized barrel-shaped hand drum of the tumbadora family
true congaSee bass tumbadora-
tumba [9] [33]
Cuba 211.221-7Largest variety of the conga family, stave drum with a cowskin head
tumbadora [33]
bass tumbadora, true conga, tres por dos, quinto
Cuba 211.22.2Cuban conga drum, barrel-shaped hand drum
tumao [4] [5]
Suriname 211.211.2Intermediate drum of the set, with agida and apinti, played with one hand, pitch can be varied based on the location of the head struck, made from hollow logs with heads of skin
tumtumSee toombah-
tumtum [27]
Barbados 211.212.1Hollowed-out tree trunk with skins at either end
tun [22]
French Guiana 2Small drum, used among the Alukuó Maroons
twavay, tambou [38]
Dominica 22Small barrel frame drum, headed with goatskin; a cord with an attached bead is placed on the drumskin to add a buzzing quality to the sound, used to accompany work songs
tymbale [10]
Haiti 212.212.1Large two-headed hooped drum, carried with a strap and sometimes with an attached board called an assot
tymbalesSee timbales-
uyó [9]
Cuba 23 Abakua friction drum, details of construction are kept secret
woowooSee French reel-
xumpé [9]
French drum
Cuba 211.22-861Second-largest of the four drums used in the Haitian-Cuban Arada ceremonies, along with hugán, hun-hogúlo and huní
yuka [44] [46]
makuta, ngoma, tambor de yuka
Cuba 211.211.2Class of three folk tubular drums: caja, mula, and cachimbo
zesse [10]
Haiti 22Cylindrical drum used in the dance of the same name, has a wire stretched across the single goatskin head

Related Research Articles

The music of Guadeloupe encompasses a large popular music industry, which gained in international renown after the success of zouk music in the later 20th century. Zouk's popularity was particularly intense in France, where the genre became an important symbol of identity for Guadeloupe and Martinique. Zouk's origins are in the folk music of Guadeloupe and Martinique, especially Guadeloupan gwo ka and Martinican chouval bwa, and the pan-Caribbean calypso tradition.

Music of Dominica Music of Dominica

The music of Dominica includes a variety of genres including all the popular genres of the world. Popular music is widespread, with a number of native Dominican performers gaining national fame in imported genres such as calypso, reggae, soca, kompa, zouk and rock and roll. Dominica's own popular music industry has created a form called bouyon, which combines elements from several styles and has achieved a wide fanbase in Dominica. Groups include WCK, Native musicians in various forms, such as reggae, kadans (Ophelia Marie, and calypso, have also become stars at home and abroad.

The music of the Lesser Antilles encompasses the music of this chain of small islands making up the eastern and southern portion of the West Indies. Lesser Antillean music is part of the broader category of Caribbean music; much of the folk and popular music is also a part of the Afro-American musical complex, being a mixture of African, European and indigenous American elements. The Lesser Antilles' musical cultures are largely based on the music of African slaves brought by European traders and colonizers. The African musical elements are a hybrid of instruments and styles from numerous West African tribes, while the European slaveholders added their own musics into the mix, as did immigrants from India. In many ways, the Lesser Antilles can be musically divided based on which nation colonized them.

The music of Saint Lucia is home to many vibrant oral and folk traditions and is based on elements derived from the music of Africa, especially rhythmically, and Western Europe, dances like the quadrille, polka and waltz. The banjo and cuatro are iconic Lucian folk instruments, especially a four-stringed banjo called the bwa poye. Celebratory songs called jwé show lyricism, and rhythmic complexity. The most important of the Afro-Lucian Creole folk dances is the kwadril. Music is an integral part of Lucian folk holidays and celebrations, as well as the good-natured rivalry between the La Rose and La Marguerite societies. There is little Western classical music on Saint Lucia, and the country's popular music industry is only nascent. There are few recording opportunities, though live music and radio remain a vital part of Lucian culture. Popular music from abroad, especially Trinidadian styles like calypso and soca, is widespread.

Biguine is a rhythm-centric style of music that originated from Saint Pierre, Martinique in the 19th century. It fuses Bèlè and 19th-century French ballroom dance steps with African rhythms.

Afro-Caribbean music is a broad term for music styles originating in the Caribbean from the African diaspora. These types of music usually have West African/Central African influence because of the presence and history of African people and their descendants living in the Caribbean, as a result of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. These distinctive musical art forms came about from the cultural mingling of African, Indigenous, and European inhabitants. Characteristically, Afro-Caribbean music incorporates components, instruments and influences from a variety of African cultures, as well as Indigenous and European cultures.

Big Drum is a genre and a musical instrument from the Windward Islands. It is a kind of Caribbean music, associated mostly closely with the music of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Music of Guadeloupe, Carriacou in Grenada and in the music of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Cadence rampa, or simply kadans, is a dance music and modern méringue popularized in the Caribbean by the virtuoso Haitian sax player Webert Sicot in the early 1960s. Cadence rampa was one of the sources of cadence-lypso. Cadence and compas are two names for the same Haitian modern meringue.

Chouval bwa is a kind of folk music originated on the slave plantations of Martinique. There are two versions, traditional and modern. Chouval bwa has been popularized by artists such as Claude Germany, Tumpak, Dede Saint-Prix, and Pakatak.

Exile One is a cadence musical group founded by Gordon Henderson in the 1970s with musicians invited over from Dominica, to be based in Guadeloupe. The band was influential in the development of Caribbean music. It became famous throughout the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and the Indian Ocean. Exile One opened the way for numerous Cadence-Lypso artists as well as for Zouk.

A bélé is a folk dance and music from Martinique, St. Lucia, Dominica, Haiti, Grenada, Guadeloupe, and Trinidad and Tobago. It may be the oldest Creole dance of the creole French West Indian Islands, and it strongly reflects influences from African fertility dances. It is performed most commonly during full moon evenings, or sometimes during funeral wakes. The dance is also popular in Saint Lucia. In Tobago, it is thought to have been performed by women of the planter class at social events in the planters' great houses, and the dress and dance style copied by the enslaved people who worked in or around these houses.

Jing Ping is a kind of folk music originated on the slave plantations of Dominica, also known colloquially as an accordion band. Dominican folk music, jing ping bands accompany a circle dance called the flirtation, as well as the Dominican quadrille.

Jwé is a kind of rural music from Saint Lucia, performed informally at wakes, beach parties, full moon gatherings and other informal events, including débòt dances. Jwé uses raunchy lyrics and innuendos to show off verbal skills, and to express political and comedic commentaries on current events and well-known individuals. One well-known technique that has entered Lucian culture is lang dévivé, which is when the singer says the opposite of his true meaning.

Kélé is an Afro-Saint Lucian religion, originated from the Djiné people of the Babonneau region. Its primary deities are Ogun, Shango and Eshu. Kélé ceremonies include the drumming of the tanbou manman and the tanbou ich of the Batá drum family. The religion has its origins in African slaves of the Babonneau region. The religion is strongly connected to the Ogun festival in Nigeria. Repressed by the Roman Catholic church until the early 1960s, it had been practiced in secrecy underground. The ritual includes the display of smooth stones and iron or steel items in honor of Ogun. The faith itself is believed to be a Saint Lucian version of Yoruba religion.

In French Caribbean culture, especially of the Lesser Antilles, the term kwadril is a Creole term referring to a folk dance derived from the quadrille.

Jounen Kwéyòl is celebrated in the Caribbean islands of Dominica and Saint Lucia on the last Friday of October and the last Sunday of October, respectively and has been held annually since 1984. Throughout the preceding week, the various villages on both islands host cultural events and festivals which showcase different elements of their heritage and culture. Moreover, there are displays of local dishes and foods such as roasted breadfruit, Coupe, Callaloo soup, Green Fig and Salt Fish, farine balls, split pea dhal fried or baked pastry, plantain, king fish, Manicou (opossum), turtle, lobster, crayfish, callaloo made from fresh water crabs, crab-back, Eel stew, Souse, fried bakes and floats, Accra, Paime, Bouljaw and a famous dish known as Bouillon. Also local drinks are available, such as Cocoa Tea, Sorrel juice, different types of alcoholic punch, Spice, Golden Apple Juice, Guava juice, Orange juice and many more local fruit juices. Apart from the variety of cultural foods, the day is commemorated with traditional folk music or 'kweyol' music, some of which have been passed down from prior generations. The most widely used instruments during Creole Day performances, besides vocals, are the "Shak-Shak", the Boom-Boom, Accordion, Tambourine, and Tambos. Most people usually observe Jounen Kwéyòl by wearing the island's National Wear which is composed of the Wob Dwiete and jip ensemble for the women and a Madras jacket, white shirt, black slacks and red sash for the men. However, in the modern day, individuals do typically use Madras to make less formal variations of the national wear. This event is even celebrated at schools, where students are allowed to dress in their Madras outfits and take part in the aforementioned activities. This has become a custom in the islands of Dominica and Saint Lucia.

Boula (music)

The word boula can refer to at least four different drums played in the Caribbean music area.

References

Notes

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