The bara (also called bendré)^[1] is a spherical hand drum with a body made from a dried gourd or calabash, used in West Africa (primarily Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire,^[1] and Mali).^[1] Its single head is made of goatskin.^[2] To make the drum, a dried gourd is cut on one end and a single head made of goatskin is stretched across the opening.^[2] Bara drums come in various sizes, some quite large. The instrument is often used to accompany the balafon.^[3]

The bara has been used in the music of the Malian musicians Yaya Diallo and Habib Koité.^[4]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• photo of a bara

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