Idiophones of Cameroon include
percussion instruments, untuned idiophones, tuned idiophones (
xylophones), concussion instruments, and other instruments.
Slit gongs: historically used for long-distance communication, and often mimic
tones in languages. Common throughout much of Africa, the tropical Americas, and Oceania. Called egyʉ̂k in
Ejagham, and also played by the
Oroko people and by
Tunen speakers.
Untuned idiophones
Struck plaques
Lithophones: played by the
Mofu of northern Cameroon, and also in Central Nigeria and throughout the world. Women of the
Noni and other nearby ethnic groups in
Bui Division play flat lithophones. The
Noni lithophone consists of a ncéw (large flat stone) struck by a pair of ncùy (smaller stones).
Struck iron plaque: a pair of sticks is used to strike a triangular plaque made of iron. Played in southeastern Cameroon by the
Kwasio and
Basaa peoples.
Struck bars: played in southwestern Cameroon by the
Basaa,
Kwasio, and other ethnic groups, and also by the
Mbum of northern Cameroon. A long piece of bamboo or log (pilon in
Mbum) is struck by multiple people using a pairs of sticks. Called disam in
Mbum.
Struck vessels
Struck gourds:
calabash gourds struck using a pair of sticks. Played among women of northern Cameroon. Called kálá in
Lagwan.
Struck tortoise shell: shells of Kinixys belliana and other
tortoise species, used by the priests of the
Oroko and other peoples for religious incantations.
Clapperless bells: made of iron or bronze. Historically used for chiefs, especially in the Grassfields region. For example,
Tikar chiefs historically had double bronze clapperless bells. Called fìŋkuy in
Noni, nzème mmó or kẅìʼ fùɔ in
Ngiemboon, and nkwom in
Bamun. See double cloche in French.
Clapper bells: examples include church bells, which have long structures inside that are used to strike the bell outside. Used by
Yamba and other peoples of the Grassfields region, where they were often made of bronze and used for chiefs' ceremonies. These bells are often arranged in fruit-like clusters, which are attached to a long bar.
Pellet bells: metal vessels with pellets inside. Played by the
Mankon and other peoples.
Iron pellet bells: typically crescent-shaped. Called kéjyága in
Ngiemboon.
Ngiemboon speakers also have a rattling iron stick/spear, which has crescent-shaped, pellet-containing bells welded to it.
Spherical/oval pellet bells: round or elliptical shape.
Rattles
Vessel rattles: similar to the
maracas of South America. Materials can include coconut shells and wood.
Basketry rattle: can be cylindrically shaped, and are usually filled with grains. Called kwedekwede in
Zulgo and mbàcà in
Noni, and also played by the
Fali,
Dii,
Voko,
Mafa, and
Parkwa peoples.
Gourd vessel rattle: can be conically shaped, and are made from calabash gourds. Called dukuced in
Zulgo, kásákásá in
Lagwan, and mbara in
Mbum.
Gourd net rattles: encased by nets with seeds strung into them. Called ficáw in
Noni.
Box rattle: rectangular box made of slats from the
raffia palm, filled with seeds. Found in the
Nkambé region, where it is called cɛ́ɛ̀sáŋ in
Noni and cɛ̀ɛ̀nsáŋ in
Limbum.
Palm-leaf box suspended rattles: sets of small rectangular boxes made from dried Borassus aethiopum leaves that are strung onto cords. They are wrapped around the ankles, legs, or wrists, and used in dances in northern Cameroon. Called ghízgá in
Lagwan, and txwtsa in
Laamang.
Xylophones can have
calabash or horn
resonators. Calabash resonators are found through southern and central Cameroon, while horn resonators are found in parts of northeastern Nigeria, extending slightly into northern Cameroon. The
Mofu people historically played a xylophone with a single horn resonator, along with calabash resonators. Northeast Nigerian cow horn resonators often have holes covered with spider webs to create a buzzing sound.
Central Africa-type xylophones: consist of a set of wooden planks laid on banana logs. These are becoming increasingly rare since they are less portable.
Frame xylophones: contain wooden frames and calabash gourd resonators. The
Beti people play large ensembles of frame xylophones, which they call mendzaŋ. Also called nzaŋa in
Mbum and ǹjáŋ in
Bum.
Concussion
Concussion sticks: pairs of sticks strung together, and are played by the
Oroko,
Ejagham, and other peoples. Called ǹjâk in
Ejagham.
Concussion bells: hollow bells, often of different shapes and sizes, strung together on a frame or iron ring (the latter being common in the
Mandara Mountains).
Concussion rings: iron rings strung together on an iron frame. Found in the
Mandara Mountains.
Concussion rattles
Small dried fruit shells strung together on a cord and attached to the ankles or waist. Played by the
Oroko and other peoples.
Large dried fruit shells filled with pellets, found in
Foumban and other localities.
Pod-shaped iron ankle rattles strung together on an iron ring, played by the
Yamba and other peoples.
Concussion spheres: two spherical dried fruit shells strung together by a cord, typically played by women as rhythmic accompaniments to songs. Called tɛ́rɛ́katɛ́tlí in
Bana, and played by the
Laamang,
Guduf,
Mafa, and many other peoples of Cameroon.
Others
Scraped idiophones: a stick, wood block, or hollowed
raffiamidrib with notches is scraped to produce sounds. The Cuban güiro is derived from such instruments. Called kenkpwaà in
Noni, kwàkwàr in
Limbum, and kwàkwàr in
Bamun.
Friction idiophones: The
Nonikèbweè ke coŋ ɛ́, an open cylindrical drum with a stick attached to the inside of the drum, is played as part of the coŋsecret society dance. The stick is rubbed against the skin to produce a squeaking sound. Called ŋgwon in a
Bamun secret society. Very rare in Africa, although also reported from the
DR Congo.
Pegged/nailed drums: Called dali in
Mbum, and kèntóm, ǹcùm, ǹtàm in
Noni. Also played by the
Ngomba (who play them in pairs) and
Mbum.
Laced drums
Laced single-headed drums: played by the
Fulani and Grassfields peoples. Called muɔ sèm in
Ngiemboon.
Laced double-headed drums
Hourglass drums: played by Muslim peoples in northern Cameroon. Often based on the
Hausakalungu. Originated in the north of Cameroon, but also spread to the south. Called ndinda in
Bamun. Also played by the
Muyang.
Barrel drums: the two heads of the drums are beaten using hands or sticks. Some barrel drums have heads of unequal sizes, while others have equally sized heads. Among the
Central Chadic languages, it is called timi or gwenderi in
Muyang, tèm in
Vame, àtìm in
Ouldeme, ʹgaŋgaŋ in
Mofu, and gáŋəka or tímé in
Podoko.
Conical drums: played in parts of northern Cameroon, where it is called madan in
Mbum.
Wedge-laced drums: played only in southern Cameroon, including by the
Oroko.
Screw-tensioned drums: typically
conga drums, which originated from the Caribbean and not directly from Africa.
Arched harp: very widespread in Africa, and likely originated in North Africa several millennia ago. Typically with pentatonic tuning and 5-6 strings in Cameroon, and is especially prevalent in northern Cameroon. Among the
Central Chadic languages, it is called tindu in
Muyang, kùléndéŋ in
Vame, kurndù in
Ouldeme, gànjával in
Mofu, kélndèw in
Mada, and gàzlàmà in
Lagwan. See kundi and ngombi in French.
Cylindrical
end-blown flutes without mouthpiece: similar to the Arab ney. Called shilashila in Kanuri and mbáyá in
Lagwan. In northern Cameroon, it is often made from bark, such as among the
Mofu people of the
Maroua region.
Conical end-blown flute ensembles: animal horns blown across the top, sometimes with 1-2 fingerholes, and played in ensembles of 5-8 instruments. Found in the
Mandara Mountains, the
Mbam-speaking areas, and among the
Ouldeme people.
Cruciform wooden whistle: blown across the top like a panpipe, with two fingerholes on the side. Often played as part of dances and for communication by hunters, and are also part of Brazilian
samba music. Called ǹdoŋ in
Noni.
Vessel flute: made using round calabash gourds and tubular resonators, and played by the
Noni.
Single-note bevel flute ensemble: played in the Grassfields region, including by the
Mankon and
Bandjoun peoples.
Multiple-note bevel flute ensemble: played in the
Mandara Mountains by boys after circumcision ceremonies.
Notch flute: the blowing end of the flute has an indented "V" shape. Played by ensembles in the Grassfields region.
Transverse flute: called odin in
Eton. Also played by the Yaounde and other peoples further to the southeast, especially in the
DR Congo. Generally rare in Cameroon.
Duct flute: flutes that make sounds via side openings, like whistles (which can be cylindrical or snail-shaped in Cameroon). Typically used to call for change in movement during dances.
Long metal trumpet: made of bronze, brass, or other metals. Played in pairs or sometimes in groups of up to 6, in northern Cameroonian Islamic courts together with algaita shawms. Also played with end-blown wooden horns in
Foumban. Called kakaki in
Bamum.
Transverse-blown horn: Made using cow horns, antelope horns (historical but now uncommon), ivory (in Grassfields courts), or wood. Usually played by men, such as in courts in the Grassfields, although
Oroko women play it. Called kèmbaa in
Noni and káál shí in
Lagwan.
End-blown horn: found in the Grassfields region, but rare in the rest of Cameroon and Africa. In Foumban, the tatat and tiratira types are played. Made from carved wood by the
Nso.
Reeds
Double reeds (
shawms): a likely medieval introduction from the
Maghreb. Derived from the ghaita of the
Maghreb, they are called algaita or alacita and are played in Islamic court ensembles in northern Cameroon, together with long trumpets.
Single reeds (
clarinets): found throughout the
Sahel. Calabash gourd resonators are sometimes attached at one end. Often made by children after
sorghum harvests. Called líkò in
Lagwan.
Whirling aerophones (
bullroarer): flat, diamond-shaped piece of wood with a string attached to it. When spun around, it produces a roaring sound, as if that of a spirit. Often used in secret societies.
Others
Percussion aerophones
Stamping tubes: long hollow tube used for stamping, like a
pestle. One end is closed to allow for stamping. Sounds vary depending on how long or wide the tube is.
Struck spherical vessels: made from dried calabash gourds in Cameroon and from pottery in Nigeria. The pitch can vary depending on the amount of air expelled by striking the vessel. One hand strikes a hole on the top, and another hand strikes a hole on the side. Played by the
Ngiemboon and other ethnic groups, often in pairs.
Snail shells: dried snail shells with perforated holes that are struck against the body to create various sounds, as the holes are opened and closed. Women use them as rhythmic accompaniments to songs.
Polyphonicwind ensembles: common throughout sub-Saharan Africa, ranging to West Africa to East Africa, and all the way down to
South Africa. Typically wind and percussion instruments (usually flutes, drums, and iron bells in Cameroon), which are played by men in egalitarian societies. Women do not play instruments and only sing if participating.