A

Aburukuwa

- A small membranophone played with sticks. It plays the role of a signal drum in the Kete ensemble.

Adawura

- A non-melodic idiophone bell; Akan name for boat shaped bell bearing a striking resemblance to the Eʋe atoke.

Agblɔʋu

- Speech surrogate as well as a supporting drum in many Eʋe ensembles.

Akaye

- A non-melodic idiophone gourd shaker. Beads or seeds are inside the hollowed gourd. The instrument is excusively played by Women in all Northern Eʋe musical settings.

Apentemma

- A small, single-head, membranophone (smaller version of the Ɔperenten). It serves as an ensemble intermediary drum in various Akan settings, especially in the Adowa ensemble.

Asiʋui

- A single headed membranophone. The Asiʋui is the lead drum in the Northern Eʋe ensemble.

Atoke

- A non-melodic, boat-shaped idiophone bell. The atoke is used to embellish and assist the role of the gakogui.

Atopani

- A single head membranophone, originally from Akan origin, that is mostly used inside the court of chiefs.

Atsimeʋu

- A single head membranophone and the largest drum in the Eʋe ensemble. It primarily serves as the lead drum

Atumpan

- Pair of single-headed membranophones used across West Africa for playing speech texts.

Atwereshie

- A single-headed drum, conga-like in appearance. This drum symbolzied a new era of music and drumming as it was invented following the independence of Ghana.

Axatse

- A beaded gourd idiophone that embelleshes the gakogui rhythmic figure.

D

Dodompo

- A small finger bell or castanet.

Donno

- A double-headed hourglass drum played under the armpit with a stick. It serves a similiar function as the Luƞa.

G

Gakogoe

- Double bell instrument, foundational for establishing the Eʋe clave pattern in most, if not all, ensembles. (Gakogui - S. Eʋe)

Gakogui

- A non-melodic, double belled idiophone produced from iron pipes. The gakogui is the foundational instrument for all Eʋe ensembles. It guides the ensemble by providing a tempo within a rhythmic framework. The gakogui is also known as tigo (derived from the high bell, ti, and the low bell, go) or gakpevi (feminine version, reffering to the mother bell and the child bell). The gakogui is played with a wooden stick approximately 12-30 cm.

Gakpeve

- Double bell instrument, foundational for establishing the Eʋe clave pattern in most, if not all, ensembles. (Gakogui - S. Eʋe, Gakogoe - N. Eʋe)

Gboba

- A large single-headed membranophone used primarily in the Kinky and Gahu dances.

Gome

- A single-headed box drum.

Guƞgoƞ

- A large cylindrical laced double-headed membranophone played in most Dagbama ensembles.

K

Kagan

- A single-headed membranophone. The smallest and highest pitched drum in the Eʋe ensemble. The "child" drum

Kalamboo

- A transverse aerophone made from cane consisting of four tone holes.

Kidi

- A single headed membranophone, having all the featurs of the Sogo but smaller. It doubles the Sogo or partakes in dialogue with the Sogo. The "mother" drum.

Kretsiwa

- A non-melodic idiophone finger-bell castanet.

Kroboto

- A large single-headed membranophone used as a war drum.

Krokoto

- A ceremonial single-headed membranophone performed by chiefs, hunters, and warriors. It is used as a speech surrogate and signal drum.

Kwadum

- A single-head membranophone and the master or lead drum in the Kete ensemble.

L

Luƞa

- A double-headed hourglass drum played under the armpit with a stick.

Lãdzo (ae)

- The horn of an antelope or other large game. Reserved solely for the chief, the instrument is played by blowing air across an opening.

Lãdzo (id)

- Smaller horns from an antelope or other large game are used as percussive block accompaniment to the Gakogoe.

M

Maracas

- Non-melodic idiophones often created from gourds with beads inside. The appropriation of Cuban, Venzuelan, or Guatamalen maracas is common.

Mba

- Wooden clappers made from bamboo.

N

Nntorowa

- A non-melodic idiophone shaker; embellishes the kete dawuro.

P

Petia

- A single-head membranophone and the smallest drum in the Adowa ensemble.

S

Saɣyelim

- A pair of woven basket shakers.

Shekeshe

- A large gourd with beads around the outside, embellishes the rhythmic figure of the Ƞono.

Sogo

- A single-headed membranophone literally meaning father drum. Functions as a leader to Kidi and Kagan drums.

T

Taʋugã

- A single-headed membranophone reserved for politcal events and draped in white cloth to symbolize purity.

U

Uuvi

- Secondary lead drum in the Eʋe ensemble. Will communicate with and accompany the Asiʋui.

Ɔ

Ɔperenten

- A single-head membranophone that serves as an ensemble intermediary drum in various Akan settings, especially Adowa ensemble.

Ʋ

Ʋugã

- A single-head membranophone lead drum in the Bɔbɔɔbɔ ensemble

Ƞ

Ƞono

- A large bell used in Ga-Adangbe ensembles