Asalato From Mali

Description

A small maraca type shaker called asalato (a-sla-to)form West Africa. It is a simple musical instrument played throughout Africa. Two small shells  are filled with seeds and attached to both ends of a flexible cord. In playing, one of the pods is held in the palm with the cord going between the first and middle fingers, the other pod is flipped around and caught with the little finger. It makes a clacking sound when the two pods contact and a shake sound (more natural than western plastic “egg shakers”) when shaken.

Known by a number of other names including; kosika, kashaka, televi, two ball on a string, african egg shaker, etc., The simplicity of this instrument can be deceiving when in both hands of a skilled player. Check this VIDEO showing Marwan Morgabi from Ghana demonstrating his techniques at Motherland Music.