Akan Drum: Symbol of African-American Musical Culture

Running head: ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTHROPOLOGY
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Authors note

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ANTHROPOLOGY
Akan drum is the symbol of African-American musical cultural, which arouses their urge
for identity and cultural values. It was named after the name of the place where it was made,
which is a region, called Akan situated in Ghana. The beat, rhythm and sound that this drum
makes triggers the rebellion side of the African people, which became a risk for their planters.
This drum is made with a combination of some parts of woods and some parts of animal
materials. This drum was used and exercised by African people solely for their entertainment.
Akan drum is one of the oldest African American objects. It was found in the colony of Virginia
in early 1700 to late 1800s (MacGregor, 2020). Currently colony of Virginia is a part of United
States of America, however the drum was created in a region in Ghana named Akan, which is
situated in West Africa, and it is believed that this drum would have been played in this place
during social occasions and religious ceremonies. According to the gathered information, the
drum has probably been carried across the Atlantic. It was brought on a slave ship where it had
been exercised by the enslaved Africans in order to keep them entertained. It is stated that
approximately more than twelve million African people were brought to the America between
the year 1501, and the slave trade has been abolished in the year 1800. They were transported in
order to deliver plantation of rice and sugar and for making mines, later they were used for
making tobacco and cotton as well. Along with other musical traditions of Africa along with
drumming has continued in the colonies and gave birth to various kinds of music including
Hollers, Fife, Work songs, Shouts and drum and spirituals music (MacGregor, 2020).
In the era of slave trade, drums were considered as enormously influential objects in Africa-
America. They were used and exercised by African on the middle passage, storing them for slave
labours and it is believed that Akan drum have reached Virginia in such a manner. Guitars and
drums were often played by African – American and it was considered that the rhythm of drums