Chekere, Ø 13-15cm, bead net

Description:
• hollow bottle gourd
• net of powder blue plastic beads
• sound range from soft murmurs, hissing waves and the roaring sea
• energizes rhythms
• traditional instrument in West African drum ensembles
• Ghana


The chekere (also known as shekeré or xequerê) is a percussion instrument consisting of a dried gourd with beads or cowries woven into a net covering the gourd.
The shekere originated in Yorubaland in West Africa, which comprises the countries of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo.

There are multiple ways to produce sounds with the instrument. The chekere is played by shaking, rubbing, hitting or tapping, creating different rhythmic effects.

While originating with the Yoruba people, the instrument is common throughout West Africa and Latin America and is central to folk music traditions of many cultures. It is used in Cuban and Brazilian music.