Product Description

This is a professional grade gita (GHEE-tuh) from Mali, featuring a very thick, high quality calabash gourd and multiple sets of cowrie shells around the perimeter, large enough for use in stage performance or for professional music production. The gita is a made of half of a thick calabash gourd with cowrie shell pairs attached around the open rim. It can be played like a drum, producing similar stroke sounds as membranophone hand drums, or it can be girated in two hands causing the shells to hit against the gourd in rhythm. The gita is traditionally played both as a percussion instrument and as a dance prop in creating choreographed percussion movement and sound. Each gita is hand made in Mali using traditional methods, and features:

• Thick half gourd with smoothed edges, 15-16″ diameter, 8-9″ high
• 22-26 pairs of white cowrie shells attached around the open edge with nylon rope
• Hand crafted in Mali using traditional methods and quality materials
• Made by cultural artisans supported in their livelihood by non-profit Africa Heartwood Project.
• The purchase of this product sustains livelihoods for cultural artisans in West Africa.