Instruments & Sounds
00: This goblet-shaped drum is played with bare hands and makes bass, tone, and slap sounds.
Djembe
A griot’s main role is to be a storyteller and keeper of this (one word).
history
This hourglass-shaped drum can change pitch when squeezed and is known for imitating speech.
Talking drum
Name two countries listed in the text where griots or these musical traditions are important.
Any two: Ghana, Mali, Senegal, Nigeria, Guinea (also Gambia)
Music in West Africa is played at weddings and festivals and also during this life event when a new baby is officially named (two words).
Naming ceremony
This instrument has 21 strings, is made from a large gourd covered with skin, and sounds like a harp.
Kora
True or False — Griots only sing and do not play instruments.
False
How did talking drums sometimes help people in places like Nigeria?
They were used to send messages between villages.
In which region of the world are the djembe, kora, and balafon commonly found?
West Africa
Give two cultural functions of music mentioned in the text besides entertainment
Storytelling, religion (also: communication, teaching lessons)
The balafon is most similar to this classroom instrument because it has wooden bars struck with mallets.
Name two types of events where griots traditionally perform
Weddings, naming ceremonies, festivals (also acceptable: births, community gatherings)
Describe how a player makes the talking drum “talk” (two actions).
The player strikes the drum with a curved stick and squeezes the strings under the arm to change the pitch.
Which West African country is specifically mentioned as having used talking drums to send messages between villages?
Nigeria
Explain in one sentence how music helps keep history and traditions alive in West African cultures.
Music carries stories and lessons through songs, helping each new generation remember the past.
Name the three basic sounds the djembe can make (give the low, middle, and high terms).
Bass (low), Tone (middle), Slap (high)
Explan how griots helped communities remember history before widespread writing
They used oral tradition — griots memorized and sang histories so people could learn and remember without written records.
Compare the main use of the djembe and the talking drum — one key difference in how they are used in community life.
The djembe is primarily for rhythms at festivals and gatherings (celebration); the talking drum was also used for communication and sending messages.
List three instruments or roles from the text that are often associated with griots
Kora, Balafon, Ngoni (or “griot” as a role, or djembe if played by griots)
Decribe two ways music brings people together during community events
Music provides shared songs and dances for celebrations; it also marks life events and teaches community values.
explain why gourds are used in instruments like the kora and under the balafon bars (two reasons).
Gourds act as resonators to amplify sound; gourds are lightweight and shaped to form sound chambers.
Identify one modern musician mentioned in the text who is a famous kora player.
Toumani Diabaté
Explain how rhythm and pitch together could carry a message over distances using talking drums
Players vary rhythm and pitch so listeners can hear patterns that represent words or phrases; the changing pitches travel across distances and are interpreted as messages
Explain why griots were highly respected in their communities (two reasons).
Because they memorized and passed down family histories and important events, and because they performed at important ceremonies, making them key parts of community memory and culture.
explain why instruments like the djembe, kora, and balafon are more than tools for sound in West African cultures
In West African cultures, instruments like the djembe, kora, and balafon are part of community life. They are used in ceremonies, to tell stories, and to teach lessons. These instruments connect people to history and to each other, making music a vital part of
cultural identity.