By Zakiyyah McKelven

"Voices Of Africa" Assistant Managing Director

Lesson One:
The Sekere is a percussion instrument that also considered a drum.  It is a hallowed out , dried gourd wearing a network of beads which allow percussionist to utilize dual sounds while playing.  The dual sounds being the sound or tone of the gourd itself in addition to the sound of the beads on the gourd.

Finding Your Sekere
     Sekere(s) come in a variety of different sizes, weights and shapes so it is always good to find one that you feel comfortable holding.  You at least, should be able to easily support the sekere by holding the neck only in one hand. Test it out for ease and comfort.  Remember you are forming a long term relationship with your instrument. It will be so unhappy if you bring it home and put it on the shelf because you are not comfortable with it.  In some instances you may find a gourd that you wish to string. The "Voices Of Africa" is  available to give lesson on stringing and playing the instrument. 

How To Hold Your Sekere
     When handling and/or playing your sekere, or any instrument, treat it with respect and courtesy.  Always hold your sekere in a slanted, diagonal position.  If you are right handed you would loosely grasp the neck of the sekere with your right hand and gently cup the bottom in your left hand.  If your are left handed you would loosely grasp the neck with your left hand and cup the bottom with your right.  All of the control when playing the instrument is in the hand around the neck.   The best way to hold your gourd is to hold your sekere with your thumb and forefinger and middle finger around the neck. 

Striking the Gourd
     Strike the sekere with the palm of your hand safely avoiding the beads. The hand on the bottom of the sekere is used to bring out the tones in your instrument.  All sekere (s) have different tones which is the sound you get when you strike the bottom of the gourd.  Some are low and some are high, some are easy to find and some are not.  It is up to you to bring out the tone in your gourd.  You do this by lifting the gourd by the neck with your controlling hand then dropping the gourd while at the same time striking the bottom of your sekere.  Please avoid striking it directly in the center of the belly which would be the small noggin which you can usually feel if you run your hand along the bottom of the gourd.  The hand you are lifting with should not be too snugly wrapped around the neck of your gourd but loosely riding along it. 

How To Practice
     Practicing is essential in gaining comfort and ease with your instrument.  You may be fearful of dropping it when you first begin.  This fear can be overcome through consistent practice which familiarizes you with the weight, texture, feel and sound of the gourd.  For beginners, try striking one a one-two-three-four beat with any traditional African music you may have on tape or cd. If you do not have such an item then you can always purchase one of our tapes (promotional plug here:)  You may also play with other music that you may have.

Playing The One-Your First Beat:
     The "One" is the most important yet basic rhythm to the compilation of all music.  It is the meter, time or pulse in the music.  It is essential to poly-rhythmic techniques and  predominates West African Percussive Music.  Wherever there is music there is usually a "one" somewhere in it.  It is that one beat that is played or implicated consistently throughout the music.  Don't be fooled by its simplicity however, the "one" is quite possibly the hardest to find, play and maintain.  It is the time keeper.  So whoever plays it must be talented enough to play one beat while keeping a steady meter.  All other rhythms depend on the "one" for timing and placement in the music.
     The "one" as with most sekere rhythms, uses the pull and catch method.  You are pulling the sekere upward with your controlling hand and rhythmically catching it in your bottom hand.  Arch your hand downward a little so that the sekere lands on the palm  of your hand.  Start to meet the sekere with a strike from your palm and you will start to hear the tone come out.  Continues this repeatedly on a steady meter and you are playing the "one."

For Detailed Lessons on Stringing and Playing the Sekere, Please call The "Voices Of Africa" Choral Ensemble @ 215-386-0088

Or us.