Rebabs, Flutes and the Gembri

These photos are of instruments that I play and sell here in Essaouria...(from top left) These are rebabs, one of the main instruments in Arabo-Andalusian music. They are also one of the key instruments in berber music. They are a stringed instrument (mainly horse hair) on a wooden frame body, covered with a goat skin. They originated from Afghanistan no earlier than the 8th century and spread over Islamic trading routes, through North Africa, the Middle-East, Europe and the far East.

All over African there are numerous flutes and horns used for all kinds of ceremonial music. The Salamiyyan, (top right) is an open ended reed instrument associated with Sufiism. In Gnawa music, the N'far horn is commonly used - it is a three metre, sigle note horn made of copper and used in ceremonial music and to awaken the faithful during Ramadan. Raita's (top left) are a wooden double-reed instrument. Click on the photos to see the instruments in more detail.......