ABOUT THE
bougarabou
This page contains information about the Irie Tones bougarabou. Although
we don't claim that it is exhaustive, we hope it gives you a solid basic
understanding of your instrument. If you need clarification or have something
you feel would be useful to add, please contact us. We'd be happy to help!
Irie
Tones Bougarabou Features
Colors
All of our bougarabous come with a natural finish. Clear varnish is
applied to the drum after the artwork has been carved and before the
head is installed.
Carvings
Linear geometric designs carved into the base of the drum.
Skins
The skin on a bougarabou makes a major difference in the sound and
playability of the drum. The bougarabou is traditionally made with a
shaved antelope or calf skin head. Because antelope skin is difficult
to come by legally in West Africa, ours come with calf skin by default.
However, Irie Tones also offers other skin options for your bougarabou:
- Shaved calf skin (default) - Calf skin is used
because it is relatively thick, which produces the mellow sounds and
mid-tones common to the bougarabou. When tightened you'll get a great
bass and clean slap, and a wide range of tones. Calf skin makes this
drum a very durable, long-lasting instrument.
- Shaved goat skin (special order)- Mature goat skin.
Cleaned and dried without using salts. Installed on drum then allowed
to dry completely before shaving and applying tension.
- Unshaved goat skin (special order) - Same as above,
but has not been shaved. These drums can still be played, but also
make a wonderful piece of home decor!
Special Order bougarabous
Our unshaved and goat skin bougarabous are available on special order.
You can place an order at any time, allowing 4 to 8 weeks for delivery.
If you are interested in getting a custom size, custom carving, or other
unique features don't hesitate to ask.
How
To Play Your bougarabou
Position - The bougarabou is normally played in a
standing or seated position, similar to how a djembe is played. When
standing you will use a strap or a stand. If using a strap the drum
will rest between the legs or to one side; make sure you can comfortably
reach the center of the drum with your palms without moving the shoulders.
You may choose to use a stand, which will take the load off your shoulders
and feet. When playing from a seated position the bougarabou will rest
between the legs, inclined away from the lap slightly. This opens up
the hole so as to not obstruct the bass.
Caution - You should never play your bougarabou while
sitting atop it; this may add uneven tension to the head and may strain
the wood at the neck. The bougarabou is traditionally played with the
bare hands only, even though antelope skin is is strong enough to be
struck with a beater. If using a stick, make sure it is a padded mallet
and not used with excessive force. We don't recommend this, however,
because of the likelihood of damaging the skin if playing improperly.
The bougarabou can be played using djembe technique or conga technique.
From a djembe technique perspective, it makes three common sounds, the
bass, tone, and slap:
- Bass - With a stiff wrist allow an open or cupped
palm to hit the center of the head and bounce off. To reduce overtones
make sure the palm of the hand it hitting the center of the drum.
- Tone - With a firm hand and fingers together play
near the rim of the skin. The hand should make contact with the rim
of the drum on the fleshy part of the fingers between the 2nd and
3rd knuckles.
- Slap - With a loose, pivoted hand slap the head
with a forceful attack. The hand should make contact with the rim
of the drum near the top of the palm under the third knuckle.
How To Care for and
Maintain Your bougarabou
- Transport and Exposure - Although your drum is very
durable you should avoid exposing it to the elements (direct sunlight,
extreme heat or cold, dampness, rain, snow, etc.). Also avoid rapidly
moving the drum from one heat or humidity extreme to another. If you
need to take your bougarabou to a different altitude always loosen it
a bit to relieve tension and to avoid breaking the skin.
- Cleaning - Your bougarabou may be cleaned with a
damp cloth, but don’t apply cleansing agents or other cleaning
tools. Avoid playing with dirty hands or leaving your drum exposed to
sand or soil.
- Maintenance - Under normal circumstances your bougarabou
skin does not require any oils or leather treatment to keep it in shape;
the oil from your hands should be sufficient. Although a stain or varnish
has already been applied, you may choose to refinish it and apply a
wood oil; this will help prevent splitting.
How To Rope Tune Your
bougarabou
We import our bougarabous with the head already in place and tightened,
though not to the point where the skin may burst while in transport.
Given this, you may wish to custom tune it according to your preferences.
The following Mali-weave technique is a simple way of efficiently applying
tension to your rope-tuned bougarabou, djembe, ashiko, or djun-djun.
Don't be intimidated! It really is quite simple and quick once you turn
a few diamonds and get the hang of it. Follow the detailed instructions
below to get started.
Warning: It is possible to break the skin on your drum by overtightening.
Once you have achieved the tone and bass you desire, don't continue
weaving. With time you may need to turn a few more diamonds as the rope
and skin stretches slightly.
FORTHCOMING...
Brief
History of the Bougarabou Drum
Forthcoming...
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