Drum Repair

In a typical African Village, the fisherman mend their nets. The drummers repair their drums. This involves getting hide: antelope or goat, conditioning it, removing the hair from it, and preparing the drums and various rings and threads. Under the guidance of an expert, people are guided to repair it. It’s a usual thing for drummers in various traditions across Africa, and across the world.

When the drum skins are soaked, placed on the drum shell, it is carefully integrated and connected with the rings and the threads that are woven, calculating the equal distances across the circumference of the drum. The various tensions are adjusted in a rope pulling method. A careful balance to centre the skin appropriately, and stretch according to the texture and the radius, as well as the circumference being pulled across the surface of the shell of the drum toward the sides.

These are samples of some of the things that are done in a participatory space. Participants get to try, different techniques. You may also take on a personal project if you have your own drum that needs to be repaired. We have a version for children and youth to learn to make drums with simple cans, buckets, or wooden shells.