GETTING TO KNOW SEKERE

The world of music is constantly developing interesting instruments. Some are impressive, innovative instruments that make unusual sounds played in experimental performances. Some are simply improvements on an old design to enhance sound quality or provide ease of use. Still others were created in various countries around the world and are being introduced and played in countries outside their birthplace. Sekere is one of the latter.

The following is for those who do not yet know what sekere is. Sekere is a combination of a nylon or cotton net strung with colorful beads on a large gourd. With the popularity of this instrument growing among drummers and other musicians, there is great curiosity about, what some think of as, the mystery of the sekere. The sekere, developed in West Africa, has seen a considerable number of developmental transitions.

THE SEKERE GOURD - As Opposed to Other Gourds

The short and simple description is that the sekere gourd has a small bulbous “head” atop a thin “neck” attached to a suddenly large, round “belly”. This is the most popular shape, although gourds are grown in various sizes and shapes depending on what variety of gourd it is. Gourds used to make sekeres can be Penguin, Tobacco Box, Kettle, Canteen, and several types of Bottle gourds. They are usually green, heavy and filled with a seedy pulp while ripening. When it has fully grown, it is allowed to dry, after which its shell becomes very hard and, feather light. When dried, their shell can be dark brown, to light beige, mottled or monotone, again, depending on its variety.

It is important to understand the difference between the sekere gourd and gourds grown for decorative uses. Yes, they can all be painted or pyro-decorated (burned with a hot metal tool). However, the sekere gourd is meant to be an important component of a musical instrument, not only an objet d’art. It needs to possess characteristics that allow it to be coaxed into producing many different tonalities.

The ironic thing about the sekere gourd is that the "perfect" one is not always the best for the musician. Sometimes, imperfections work in the musician’s favor. For instance, unlike the flat bottom gourd, a concave bottom forces the musician to strike the perfect drumming spot. That means the “navel” at the bottom of the gourd is sunken in so it would be impossible to drum on it, which would be dangerous for the breakable gourd. Conversely, the convex surface encourages the proper positioning of the drumming hand by allowing the protruding “navel” to fit comfortably into the palm. Consequently, the heel of the hand is in the perfectly defined area for avoiding gourd damage while drumming. The strength of the flat bottomed gourd is that it will “sit” upright when placed on a surface, which comes in handy on stage. However, this wonderful flat bottom leaves the entire drumming surface exposed, making it possible for an excited or inexperienced drummer to drum in the wrong spot. Strike the gourd in the wrong spot - on or near the "navel"  and it's in pieces.

In regards to the dimensions of the gourd used for the best sounding instrument, a medium thin shell produces the fullest, roundest, and most pronounced reverberation and volume. The tone is more woody and flat, lacking reverberation when the shell is extremely thick. Also, the thicker the gourd’s shell, the less bead vibration there will be. The sound vibrations get absorbed in the thick shell and do not bounce back to create the necessary volume.

Vibration and volume go hand in hand toward creating good quality of sound. The gourd variety also helps to determine the sound quality. If one were to place the same beaded net on two different gourds, each gourd would produce distinct variations in bead volume and pitch.

CLEANING THE GOURD

The creation of sekere is fun, but can be work intensive depending on the crafter's tolerance level. The outside of the gourd, or the shell, is caked with mud and other grown-on substances and farm debris. Some farmers protect the growing gourds by applying a white waxy substance that seems to become a part of the gourd. It is unsightly and needs to be removed, which can prove very difficult and frustrating. Crafters, put on your perseverance cap.

After cleaning, the top of the “head” must then be removed. How much of the "head" is removed depends on the musician or the crafter. Some prefer the opening to be as wide as possible to allow the gourd tone to escape. Others focus on aesthetics and wish to preserve the attractive and graceful shape of the “head” by keeping the opening as small as possible.

With all that done, the dried material on the inside, which used to be gourd pulp and seeds, is scraped out. Some gourd are easy to clean out, but some present the crafter with the most difficult step of all. Also, a warning comes with this last step. The fine dust and mold that accompanies the dried pulp and seeds will certainly be inhaled and, over time, cause damage to the lungs...perhaps trigger lung disease. This requires excellent protection and follow-up care. That is to say, a good face mask while cleaning, then a shower and change of clothes immediately afterwards.

Some customers are reluctant to pay the sekere maker's tag price. If the price seems high, remember that ready-to-craft gourds, that is, gourds that have been cleaned off, opened and cleaned out, can start at $15. The larger the craft-ready gourd, the pricier it will be. Sekere makers, as well as crafters of other handmade items, probably do not or cannot set prices that truly reflect the labor involved in creating their works. This is a common complaint among crafters. Customers do not understand or expect to pay for the cost of labor.

From the well cleaned and prepared gourd, to the well constructed beadwork, the instrument requires more time and effort than most people expect. It’s not uncommon for first-time students to quickly realize that they may have bitten off more than they came prepared to chew. The unfortunate result is an unfinished project. The time is not wasted, though. Just being a part of the process and, at least, understanding the objective of the process, is enlightening and fulfilling...for some. 

When we begin the sekere making workshops, we have the participants explain why they want to learn to make the instrument. So far, the answers that come back are more spiritual than simply creative. One of the reasons is, the knowledge that the gourd was once a living, growing thing that is now an expression and a symbol of life after death. Most living things that die are buried or otherwise put away. Most formally living things are eventually reduced to dust. Not only is the gourd not relegated to the “grave”, but it is transformed into another life form and continues to live. Even if the gourd breaks and can no longer be played, other items can be created from the pieces.

THE SEKERE “SKIRT” - The Beaded Net

With all the dirty work done, it is time to start the fun part - “dressing” or beading the gourd. This creates the familiar loud, lush, rattling sound when the instrument is shaken. Many different types of beads and other accessories can be incorporated in the making of the sekere’s “skirt” - glass, plastic, wood, metal, bells, seashells, etc. A wide variety of “voices” can be created depending, first, on the materials used to “dress” the gourd, the chosen beading style, and the amount of materials used.

The string or twine used for the net is also important and has an impact on the volume and playability of the sekere. If the string is too thick, it may create a stiff "skirt" especially if the knots are plentiful and close together. Consequently, the beads will slide on the gourd's surface instead of hitting it. Thinner string will create a more supple "skirt" regardless of the amount of knots. The beads will then bounce freely off the gourd's surface, creating better volume.

Cotton string versus nylon? Cotton can stretch over time and cause the "skirt" to become droopy. Nylon is strong and will not stretch and comes in many, many bright and beautiful colors (which see, MARION JEWELS IN FIBER). If a more natural string is desired, linen or hemp may be a good choice. Hemp will be very stiff and difficult to knot. It should be dampened to soften it and make it easier to handle and to tie.  

For more detailed information on crafting a sekere, see "SEKERE TIPS" ON THIS SITE and have fun.

Go Back Up