Akamba drum Kenya


"... A drum of almost the same type as the preceding (photo), but considerably larger (diameter about 0,5m) and not growing narrow at the bottom is the kifemba. It is used only by old people, especially by the old women and preferably at religious festivals and exorcisms as music to the spirit dance of the old women. Formerly it was also used as a signal drum at hostile attacks. The drummer sits astride the instrument, which rests on the ground, or else he (she) sit on the ground himself and leans the drum against the inner part of one of the thighs."
excerpt from: Lindblom, Gerhard. (1920) - The Akamba in British East Africa. An Ethnological Monograph.


Bibliography:
Lindblom, Gerhard. (1920) - The Akamba in British East Africa. An Ethnological Monograph.
Kavyu. P.N. (1980) - Traditional Musical Instruments of Kenya. Nairobi : Kenya Literature Bureau.
Hyslop G. - Musical Instruments of East Africa: Kenya