Kenyan Percussion Instruments

Early in 1970, the Post Office authorities issued a series of four stamps devoted to the Musical Instruments of East Africa. Those chosen were adeudeu and nzumari from Kenya, the hand marimba from Tanzania and the amadinda from Uganda. There was no drum and some members of the public raised the question as to why this was so. The omission was deliberate, apparently everyone had heard of the African drum but few people knew about supporting musical instruments. The issue of stamps was taken as an opportunity to educate the public on this matter.

1. Kayamba (Giriama)

If there is an instrument familiar to most, it’s the kayamba. Found along the coastal region to as far as the north of Kenya, this tray-shaped percussion instrument comes in various sizes – from as small as 20cm to a larger 40cm. A kayamba consists of two layers of reeds sewn together and secured to form a shallow compartment in which hard bright red and black seeds are contained. When shaken, it produces a rattle effect that contrasts (in a beautiful way) the rhythm of a song.

2. Isukuti (Luhya)

Dancing has always been one of the most riveting aspects in Abaluhya history, so much so that there were several ceremonies annually in which it featured: from initiation to weddings to beer parties and dancing festivals. In all of these, one percussion instrument was always on site, bringing life to the music – the isukuti drum. The large version as pictured is referred to as an ingoma, but it was the smaller one – known as an isukuti – that was known to make the tunes a lot more irresistible to crowds.