A large dried gourd with a loose-fitting net of beads that strikes against the gourd when shaken. The present form of the shekere evolved in Cuba from African predecessors.
Traditional instrument similar to an instrument from West Africa, played by main singers and backup singers. It is made up of a dried out empty calabash covered with a net and containing beads, dried seeds or shells, that make sounds when the instrument is shook, amplified by the resonating cavity formed by the calabash.
The history of these gourds, which are covered with woven, beaded webbing, begins in Africa where it serves as a shaker, a rattle and a drum. The instrument is played by shaking or twisting it to get shaker and rattle sounds or by hitting the bottom of the body with the palm of the hand to get drum like bass notes.
An African-derived rattle made of a large gourd with bead held by a string net on the outside. It is one version of a rattle common in Africa and African-Latin America and works on the opposite principle from maraccas.
Shekeres are found throughout the continent of Africa and called different things, such as the lilolo, axatse, and chequere. It is predominantly called in Nigeria. The shekere is made from various sized gourds that grow on the ground. The shape of the gourd determines the sound of the instrument. A shekere is made by drying the gourd for several months then removing the pulp and seeds. After it is scrubbed, a netting of bead work is added to the outside to produce a "shaker" sound. A great instrument to accompany Djembe, Ashiko and Bougarabou drumming.
( sheh keh reh) is the Nigerian Yoruba name for the gourd instrument with a net of beads strung around it. It is played by shaking the beads and striking the gourd. The word is spelled Xekere in Brazilian Portuguese (because "x" is pronounced "sh".) In Cuban Spanish it is often spelled Chekere and pronounced " Chek keh reh".
The shekere is a percussion instrument from Africa, consisting of a dried gourd with beads woven into a net covering the gourd. Throughout the continent it is called different things, such as the lilolo, axatse (Ghana), and chequere. It is predominantly called shekere in Nigeria.
