| It sometimes happens that a certain group of | | | | obtain high-quality instruments carved from a |
| people will become associated with a certain ability | | | | single block of wood. The drums are played with |
| or skill. People from Norway or Sweden, for | | | | either sticks or hands. Enhancing the social |
| example, are often assumed to be excellent | | | | importance of these instruments is the fact that |
| skiers. If individuals are from South America, they | | | | they are often named after members of the |
| are sometimes presupposed to be exceptional | | | | family: the "kagan" is the "baby brother drum," |
| dancers. Sometimes such assumptions, which are | | | | and it's beats are usually weak and in a repeated |
| essentially stereotypes, are inaccurate and unfair. | | | | pattern; the "kidi," or "mother drum," has a much |
| But sometimes they are right on the money. This | | | | more active role, but it is still an accompanying |
| is true in the case of the Ewe, a group of people | | | | instrument; the "sogo," or "father drum" leads the |
| who live in Togo, Benin and the southeast corner | | | | "kidi," and all of these are responsive to the |
| of Ghana. These people are internationally known | | | | "atsimevu," or "grandfather drum." Such names |
| for their skill in the art of ensemble drumming, a | | | | and roles make clear the importance of drums in |
| skill so distinctive and pronounced that their style | | | | Ewe culture. |
| has actually been named "Ewe drumming." | | | | Ewe drumming involves sophisticated cross |
| Although Ewe drumming is very diverse and can | | | | rhythms (beats shifted in a metric pattern to |
| vary according to locality, it is all recognized as | | | | different positions) and polyrhythms (simultaneous |
| part of a larger style and honored as such. | | | | soundings of two or more independent rhythms). |
| Ewe drumming is as complex as its history is long. | | | | Some authorities hold that the art's use of |
| The Ewe people are thought to have migrated to | | | | rhythm is similar to that of jazz which, it is |
| their current location around the 13th century, and | | | | interesting to remember, originated in the |
| their tradition of drumming has long been an | | | | African-American communities of the southern |
| established fact. Ewe drumming involves not only | | | | United States. |
| complicated drumming but a complex culture as | | | | In addition to its roles in family and community, |
| well. These people believe that if a person is a | | | | these drums have a place in religious practices as |
| good drummer, it is because they inherited the | | | | well. The "Tro-u" is a style of drum music used to |
| spirit of an ancestor who was a good drummer. | | | | invite ancestors to shrines on sacred occasions. |
| In addition to familial implications, music among the | | | | The rhythms of this style are dictated by a priest |
| Ewe is used to enhance a sense of community. | | | | or priestess, and the music allows this person to |
| Clearly, Ewe drumming is more than a simple | | | | communicate with the spirit world. "Sowu" is one |
| form of entertainment. | | | | of the sacred forms of music used by the cult of |
| Ewe drums are generally constructed like barrels, | | | | Yewe in worship of the God of Thunder. |
| "staved" with metal rings, although it is possible to | | | | |