Agogo

Ewe

20th century · Iron · Musical Instruments

Known as akogo among the Ewe people (Ghana), this idiophone occurs throughout West Africa. A penetrating ringing sound is produced by striking the ring, worn on the thumb, against the larger lemon-shaped section worn on the middle finger. Instruments made of sonorous materials (idiophones) comprises the largest and most widespread type in sub-Sahara Africa. Names of identical instruments change from region to region. Some instruments and the music linked to them have traveled beyond the African homeland to North and South America and the Caribbean. Idiophones are sounded by shaking (rattle, sistrums), beating together (iron clappers), or striking (xylophones, slit gongs, bells). they reinforce the rhythmic foundation of a piece, provide a melodic line, signal by imitating spoken languages, or perform rhythmic, melodic and communicative roles simultaneously.

Artist

Ewe

Date

20th century

Medium

Iron

Culture

Ghanaian

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

Gift of Herbert J. Harris, 1986