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INTRODUCTION

In music there is a basic instrument used to create a rhythm. In this case we are going to do a deep dive on a music instrunment of the igbo community .The sound is familar just like the idiophones but unique .The instrument is called EKWE .it is a two toned instrunment from the igbo community who are from Nigeria.it is said to be an instrunment graced with simplicity and minimalism.Ekwe is a slit drum, hollow percussion instrument.Ekwe is a wooden resonator from the Igbo community and is made from  wood logs of different sizes ,hollowed out enough to serve as a resonator and with a slit at the top .It is not a true drum since it lacks a drumhead and a membrane stretched across the top of a drum .This is why its classified as a idiophone .Idiophone are instruments that vibrate after being struckbto produce sound. The ekwe comes in different sizes .The large ekwe is called ekwe agba which produces deep bass notes and the playing technique is fairly gentlevand was played during rituals and ceremonies .A medium sizes ekwe is called the ekwe agungwa .this was used for communicating more complex messages in long distances .The small ekwe is called ekwe agba which produces a sharper pitched sound and more spirited playing was used .it was used to communicated short and simple messages USES OF EKWE IN THE COMMUNITY The ekwe plays a huge role in the Igbo community .Its played by a spacialist known as an Ekwe player and its used to communicate messages, emotions and to tell stories during celebration .It was used to pass message during hunts and battlesIn long distance the Ekwe was used as a talking drum to communicate with each other since it produces deepbrich bass .Different rhythms were used for different purposes .The large ekwes were for important events and the smaller ones are for personal use .The ekwe was used for traditional dances and ceremoniess like Idu cultural dance of the akpo people of Abia state .it was played during dances to create a rhythm that accompanies the movement of the dancers.it was also used in igbo people for community gatherings to announce important events or to call people to assemble.its also used in modern day igbo music such as igbo highlife Ogene ,igbo ,gospel and ikorodo.It was also used to create a unique sound to add to the rhythm and melody of the music .Ekwe players used different rhytms for different purposes from celebrations to emergencies .It was played alongside other instrunments like Ogene (metal gong)and Udu (clay pot ) .Artist use the Ekwe till date to make beautiful rhythms to celebrate the history of the Igbo people

MATERIAL AND TECHNIQUE USED

The material and technique used have an impact on the sound produced .The tools used are cutlass ,handsaw,file,chisel,mallet and are used to cut ,bore ,hew,scoopand smoothen the wood during construction of the ekwe.Sunlight and air are the sources of seasoning of the wood .The log of the wood has to be cut ,hewed and scooped for several days to make it a hollow resonator .They take up to two to three months to season before its complete .The process needs alot of patience and time .The hollowed out log gives the deep resonance of drums when hit on the outside with sticks ,mallets or hands .Different tonal quality can be produced  depending at which part of the drum is struck. The Ekwe has two slit and resembles an "H" and can be referred to as tongues. Each tongue is carved to different thickness to produces different pitches. The resonating chambers increase the volume of the sound produced and the sound presented through the open port /tongue.For the resonating chamber to be in the correct size and produce a good pitch ,it has to have correct volume and airspace to complete a full sound wave for a particular wave .For effective playing some artist add leather strap from leather fastened end to end of the instrument. Others use rope or wood fitted as a handle. Ekww drum plays short, repeated melodies and plays simple rhythms.They are often simple but can create a poweful yet mesmerizing effect when played in unison. They play repeating patterns that can be referred to as groove since they played over an over making them memorable .They also play call and responce were by the audience respond with their own sound when the drum plays certain melody.

THE EVOLUTION OF EKWE The ekwe was used in traditional cultural events and is still used in modern timesto a more diverse and hybrid form of music .its used in this kind of Igbo music like ikorodo ,igbo gospel ,igbo highlife and also ogene .The ekwe was played in teaditional music like "Igbo traditional dance music " which was played in weddings and celebratory events.It has catchy melody and repeated pattern .its also played in "the royal dance of the Oba "and also  " ogene music too . Its used in igbo traditional dances like idu cultural dances of the Akpo people of Abia state. Highlife musician are referred to modern day african town carriers who use ekwe to create music  to present the beautiful africa's culture but also social economic and political problems being faced in the society . Most popular nigeria's music is Palm wine music and highlife and is a hybrid of traditional music and western instrunment The ekwe instrunment was very common in highlife music .it is one of the earliest instrunments that was used in highlife The highlight music is popular genre in nigeria .it originated in late 19th century .its combines elements of traditional african music with western influences such as jazz. The artist in this genre combine traditional instrunments like ekwe with modern instrunments like saxophone ,trumpets and guitar. This combinates creates very unique and lively sound .some of this artist are like King sunny ,chief stephen Osita and Fela kuti.

WHO PLAYED THE EKWE

The ekwes were played mostly by men .The drums were passed from father to son and was very much considered a very masculine instrunment .In other cases boys aged as low as 10 years would learn to play the ekwe and would be considered part of the drumming group The afikpo area women are still not allowed to see or listen to these instrunments while they communicate In Ekwe drumming the role of women was fascinating and complex .In some culture ,like the Igbo culture drumming is traditionally a male dominated form .There have been some notable women who have excelled in drumming.The function for which these instrunments are used to take place at night in order for women to hear the instrunments playing but not see either of them or the players .women sometimes played the ekwe which was way less.Examples of women who played the ekwe are (Musician and activist Funmilayo Ransome -Kuti,was know for playing the ekwe and other percussion instruments.shebis also knowing for herbpolital activism .Ojo Adeola is another example who was known for playing the ekwe drum in a group called "Afrucan womens drumming Ensemble "Ojo Adeola ,who was one of the first ekwe drummers in nigeria .she gained recognition for hwr skill and helped to open the doors for other women to pursue drumming. There are groups like the ekwe ladies of nigeria who perform traditional ekwe music and have kept the tradition alive CONCLUSION

In summary the use of ekwe has evolved from traditional use to mordern use .Musicians have found a way to blend both traditional elements of music to the current music of today bring in a differnt genre of music .This has also brought out the creativity of musicians to maintain the playing of ekwe till to date .The Ekwe was also used to bring people together when listening to musicand enjoying it as well .The ekwe is attributed to its cultural diversity and the success of nigerian music .we have also seen how different material affect the sound produced and how crafting instrunments can take time .The technique of how an instrunment is played can affect the sound.we have also realised even for men dominated instrument we have aeen some ladies come up and playing it and some have been recognised outside nigeria .women have created bands where they explore the sound of ekwe to create music even though some of the traditional aspects where not forgotten .This has brought alot of diversity to igbo music.

REFFERENCES Motherland Music. (n.d.). Ekwe Log Drum. Retrieved from https://motherlandmusic.com/products/instruments/other-instruments/ekwe-log-drum/ekwe/#:~:text=Larger%20ekwes%20produce%20deep%20bass,sharper%20pitched%20andmore%20spirited%20playin https://www.firestone.co.za/firestone-musical-instruments-ekwe#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20most%20unique,of%20design%20simplicity%20and%20minimalism.&text=The%20Ekwe%20instrument%20is%20of,in%20their%20homeland%20of%20Nigeria: Firestone Musical Instruments. (n.d.). Ekwe. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2158244016689129: Adogu, U. (2016). Ekwe Drumming: Its Pedagogy and Training Regime in the African Context. International Journal of Arts and Social Sciences, 4(8), 48–58. doi:10.7815/ijass.2016.4.8.04

https://www.ethnicmusicalinstruments.com/Log-Drums.html: Ethnic Musical Instruments. (n.d.). Log Drums. Wikipedia. (n.d.). Slit drum. Retrieved from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slit_drum