Nature as Instrument: The Origins and Sound Imitation of African Traditional Instruments

Abstract

This paper centers on three African traditional instruments, namely the water drum, ocean drum, and rainstick, examining their emulation of natural sounds, origins and cultures. By taking an interdisciplinary approach and combining the fields of ethnomusicology, anthropology, and ecomusicology, the structural, acoustic, and manufacturing features of these instruments are analyzed. The study concludes that they are able to successfully reproduce natural sounds like the flow of water, ocean waves and rainfall by utilizing natural materials or mechanical simulation directly. Beyond their ritual functions within African communities, such as rain cultivation rituals, sacrificial ceremonies and agricultural practices, these instruments are examples of the deep relationship between human musical expression and the natural environment and as such, they subvert traditional western conceptions of music. Cross- and cross-national comparisons show that imitating natural sounds is a universal component of world musical practices, but African musical instruments with their specific practicality and cultural attachment reflect music's essential function as a bridge between human beings and nature and can provide useful insights into sustainable musical practices and improved cross-national communication.