The Musical Traditions and Instruments of the Zulu

African music is the music of Africans who live inThe akadinda is a king of xylophone; two groups
a large region of 50 nations, each with a specialof African musicians are playing simultaneously.
culture, history and language, South of Sahara.The first group is playing repeatedly the same
Zulu musical instruments are part of thispattern; the second group plays to fill in the
multilingual culture. African music has some distinctmissing sounds. Groups of Zulu musicians play also
characteristics: the use of repetition is one ofusing flutes, trumpets or xylophones. Each player
them. Another important characteristic is theplays a single note in a strange rotation with the
polyphony; this is the combination of differentother players. The result is a polyphonic piece,
musical parts played simultaneously.characteristic to African music.
The history is marked by the awesome militaryMusical practices of South African people were
strategies of the Zulu King Shaka. The King's andobserved from many years; Zulu musical
his warriors' campaign of expansion is well knowninstruments are obsolete. Venda mbila is an old
in world history. Zulu rich traditional culture includesZulu musical instrument; it is not used anymore.
songs, dances and colorful rituals, Zulu musicalReed flutes, contrary, are still very popular.  The
instruments are spectacular and original. A varietyinfluence of foreign cultures and civilizations causes
of Zulu musical instruments are well known, s wellmany of old Zulu musical instruments to become
as the traditional Mine dance; Zulus have longtimeobsolete.
used their music as a cry for freedom.Musical instruments such as tsonga - a horn,
African music is really rich in modes of expression:ingungu - a friction drum, nkoka - a drum, pedi - a
drum ensembles are using Zulu musicalflute, venda - musical bow and stick, deze and
instruments from the percussion family. Eachdemba - thumb piano and resonatos, umfece -
drummer uses special methods to produceankle rattles are almost obsolete.
sounds to distinguish his drum from the others.To preserve this awesome heritage of Zulu
Iron bells are very popular Zulu musicalmusical instruments, the necessary information
instruments; they are used to produce a repeatedwas entered into a database; each Zulu musical
sound to help the drummers to play at theinstrument was digitally photographed to preserve
correct time.all information about it.
Zulu musical instruments, rare and very special