A bougarabou (actual spelling BouGARabou) is a set of three to four drums commonly used in West Africa. The drums are single headed (cow skin), with an elongated goblet shape, usually placed on a single stand.
Until the last few decades the Bougarabou was played only one at a time, but in the last generation or two, possibly influenced from congueros in the western hemishpere, players play multiple drum setups. The drum is originally from the Jola people in (Senegal) & the (Gambia), and is nomally played solo, by a single drummer, unlike many african tribal situations. The drummer also wears a series of metal bracelets that contribute to the sound, and the dancers often clap and sing with the music, but it is unique in that a single drummer traditionally provides the drumming. An excellent recording has been made by Village pulse records of this tradition, with Bougarabou drummer Saikouba Badjie. An excerpt is available here, conforming to fair use guidelines:
They are normally played with only the hands in a standing position. They have a full, deep, rich sound which can be heard for miles and is effective at all dynamic levels. They produce a kind of bass melody in the total rhythm. in other modern drumming situations, they are often used to back up djembes and tammas in a percussion group.
A Bougarabou (alternative spelling “Boucarabou”) is a set of three to four drums commonly used in West Africa.
Until the last few decades the Bougarabou was played only one at a time, usually with one hand and a stick, but in the last generation or two (since the 1940s), possibly influenced from congueros in the western hemisphere, players play multiple drum setups.
The drum is originally from the Jola (Jóola) people in the south of Senegal, the Casamance and the Gambia, the Jóola Buluf, the Jóola Fogny and the Jóola Kalunai.
Bougarabou is a centuries-old tradition that continues to develop.
In Bougaraboudrumming, these two roles are fused and, thus, the challenge for a drummer like Badjie is to maintain a deep and steady groove and, at the same time, spice up the rhythm so as inspire the dancers.
It is an excellent introduction to the Bougarabou tradition that hasnt received the attention its deserves; it is a tradition that djembe players and drummers in general should find both novel and inspiring.
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