Traditional Gambian Instruments for Celebrations

Key Instruments

• Kora – A 21-string harp-lute, iconic to Mandinka griots.
• Tama (Talking Drum) – Hourglass-shaped drum with adjustable pitch, mimicking speech.
• Balafon – Wooden xylophone with gourd resonators.
• Ritti – A one-string fiddle, similar to a violin.
• Sabar Drums – Double-headed, hourglass-shaped hand drums, central to Wolof celebrations.

These instruments accompany dances, ceremonies, and storytelling, blending rhythm, melody, and oral tradition.