 The
Boucarabou (alternative spelling bougarabou) is a set of 3 to
4 drums commonly used in Gambia as well as the rest of West Africa.
The drums are single headed with an elongated goblet shape, usually
placed on a single stand and the end is covered in
cow hide.
Traditionally only one Boucarabou was played at a time,
but in more modern times, possibly influenced by modern western
music, players now perform on multiple drum configurations.
The drum is originally from the Jola people in Casamance, Senegal
as well as the Gambia, and is normally played solo, by a single
drummer. The drummer also wears a series of metal bracelets that
contribute to the sound, and the dancers often clap and sing with
the music, but it is unique in that a single drummer traditionally
provides the drumming. One of the most eminent performers of this
instrument is Saikouba Badjie.
They are normally played with only the hands in a standing position.
They have a full, deep, rich sound which can be heard for miles
and is effective at all dynamic levels. They produce a kind of
bass melody in the total rhythm. In other modern drumming configurations,
they are often used to back up the djembe and tama in a percussion
group.
An excerpt is available below, conforming to fair use guidelines:
http://rhythmweb.com/real/Saikouba01.ram
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Culture & Traditions Music Traditional Modern
Senegambian Music 
