Description: The sakara is a circular fame drum having a shallow depth that is found in Nigeria. It is played by the Yoruba and the Hausa peoples. In the Yoruba culture the sakara used for a wide variety of purposes. The sakara is played in wedding ceremonies or among other functions a king could summon his subjects to court. The sakara is also used to broadcast messages and to offer prayers. Traditional "Were music" is played on the sakara to call Muslims to Ramadan. Sakara drums are often played together in a poly-rhythmic voice. This is to achieve a chord like effect in the rhythmic cycles. In the Yoruba culture the men would make the sakara. The assembly of the sakara would begin with a clay ring who is made separately. Then a group of three sticks and the hide skin often of goat. Three pegs are inserted first into the drum's skin and body. This is achieved only with great delicate care not to break the clay ring while it is under tension. The sakara has a total of 10 pegs. Then the pitch of the sakara is adjusting the pegs by carefully pushing them inwards. The pegs are chosen with care from a hard wood tree, they are selected for durability and long lasting strength. The sakara often come in many sizes.

 

 

Citations: Google article ' scanned chapter of book' Percussion Instruments and their history > Rattray R. S. Ashanti Claridon Press, Oxford 1923 P. 259.