Udu

Early Udu drums were simply water jugs with an additional hole and were played by Igbo women for ceremonial purposes.^[2] Legend says that the Udu drum was made accidentally because a punched hole was on the side, making it useless. Instead of throwing it away, the owner started to drum it.^[3]

Usually, the Udu is made of clay. Sometimes, the ashes of relatives are used to make them too,^[1] but it also can be made out of plastic or glass. Today it is widely used by percussionists in different music styles.

The Udu is played in two primary ways: it is either placed on the lap or secured to a stand using duct tape.^[3] The player produces a bass sound by quickly striking the larger hole.^[4] Various pitches can be achieved by adjusting the hand position over the smaller upper hole. Additionally, the body of the instrument can be played using the fingers, creating a diverse range of sounds.^[5]

• Clive Sithole^[6]
• Eugene Skeef^[7]

• Botija
• Ghatam
• Ipu
• Gagar