Description

The Bara Drum from Mali

The bara (also called bendré in some contexts) is a spherical hand drum originating in West Africa, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Côte d’Ivoire. In Mali, it is closely associated with the Bambara (Bamana) and Bobo (Bwa) ethnic groups, especially in the Ségou Region.

Construction and Design

• Body: Made from a dried, hollowed calabash or gourd.
• Head: A single goatskin head is stretched across one open end
• Playing surface: Typically 9–10 inches in diameter, with a height of 12–14 inches