An agogô (

Yoruba The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...

: ''agogo'', meaning bell) is a single or a multiple

bell A bell is a directly struck idiophone percussion instrument. Most bells have the shape of a hollow cup that when struck vibrates in a single strong strike tone, with its sides forming an efficient resonator. The strike may be made by an inter ...

now used throughout the world but with origins in traditional Yoruba and Edo music and also in the

samba Samba (), also known as samba urbano carioca (''urban Carioca samba'') or simply samba carioca (''Carioca samba''), is a Brazilian music genre that originated in the Afro-Brazilian communities of Rio de Janeiro in the early 20th century. Havin ...

'' baterias'' (percussion ensembles). The agogô may be the oldest

instrument and was based on West African Yoruba single or double bells. The agogô has the highest pitch of any of the bateria instruments.

Construction

Each bell is a different size. This allows a differently pitched note to be produced depending on which bell has been hit. Originally wrought iron, they are now manufactured in a variety of metals and sizes for different sound qualities. The most common arrangement is two bells attached by a U shaped piece of metal. The smaller bell is held uppermost. Either bell may be hit with a wooden stick to make a

cowbell A cowbell (or cow bell) is a bell worn around the neck of free-roaming livestock so herders can keep track of an animal via the sound of the bell when the animal is grazing out of view in hilly landscapes or vast plains. Although they are t ...

like sound or less commonly a clicking sound is produced by squeezing the two bells together. Origins/History/Evolution The Yoruba, Igala, and Edo peoples of Nigeria use the word "agogô," which has its roots in African, to refer to a single or double clapperless bell. (Page 33 of Gourley et al. The name agogô and the idea of an instrumental were carried to the Americas by African slaves, where they were revived and used in both form and function over time as circumstances allowed and customs changed. Dimensions 10 in. length 5.6 in. length (larger bell) 2.7 in. diameter of rim (larger bell) 4.6 in. length (smaller bell) 2 in. diameter of rim (smaller bell)

Religious origins

It is used in the ceremonial music of religions in Yorubaland as well as in their new world practice, which is based on beliefs such as

Candomblé Candomblé () is an African diasporic religion that developed in Brazil during the 19th century. It arose through a process of syncretism between several of the traditional religions of West Africa, especially that of the Yoruba, and the Roman ...

brought by slaves from Africa. USES Bells are primarily used as percussion instruments in traditional Yoruba music. It is yet another crucial musical instrument in their music, along with the sekere and gangan (talking drum). This bell is used by their cultural groups; in fact, traditional dancers can only move to the sounds made by the bell. Additionally, it plays a significant role in the Yoruba musical subgenres of Juju, Afro-juju, Apala, Fuji, and others. Agogo is always present in the musical instruments used by the performers that introduced Nigerian music to a global audience. The main musical instrument used in the dancing masquerades is also the bell. In addition to smaller bells fastened to their ankles, masqueraders exhibit musical skill at cultural events. Additionally, this ringing bell is crucial to the king-making and chieftaincy rites. It plays a significant role in various regions' specific ceremonies performed throughout these procedures. The Chief Priest's or occultists' declarations or prayers must be accompanied by the ringing of the bell. One of the finest Yoruba epic films, Saworo Ide & Agogo Ewo, depicts this. These films, created by director Tunde Kelani, provide more insight into the significance of the bell in Yoruba culture. The bell was utilized in Yoruba land and certain other regions of Nigeria before the development of social media, telecommunication, and radio stations to communicate information to the populace. Using the bell to draw attention, the town crier informs the populace of information from the monarch or leaders. As soon as the bell is rung using a wooden stick, everyone congregates in one spot to hear what the town crier has to say. The bell, which may be compared to the current tweet that is sent out to the entire world, is just as significant in this situation as the town crier. A bell known as agogo is used for religious reasons in addition to the percussion bell. It features a tongue and a clapper that are used to generate noise by striking the metallic body. Pentecostal congregations utilize it as a type of musical instrument and for prayer. The importance of agogo is the same everywhere in the world.

Rhythmic patterns

Bell pattern A bell is a directly struck idiophone percussion instrument. Most bells have the shape of a hollow cup that when struck vibrates in a single strong strike tone, with its sides forming an efficient resonator. The strike may be made by an intern ...

1 is the most basic, or archetypal pattern. It is the 4/4 form of what is known in

ethnomusicology Ethnomusicology is the study of music from the cultural and social aspects of the people who make it. It encompasses distinct theoretical and methodical approaches that emphasize cultural, social, material, cognitive, biological, and other dim ...

as the ''standard pattern'', and known in Cuba as '' clave''. Pattern 1 is used in maculelê and some

and

Macumba ''Makumba'' () is a term that has been used to describe various religions of the African diaspora found in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. It is sometimes considered by non-practitioners to be a form of witchcraft or black magic. The ...

rhythms. Bell 2 is used in

afoxê The term afoxé refers to a Carnival group originating from Salvador da Bahia, Brazil in the 1920s, and the music it plays deriving from the Afro-Brazilian Candomblé religion. It came to indicate a musical rhythm, named ijexá derived from the ...

and can be thought of as pattern 1 embellished with four additional strokes. Bell 3 is used in

batucada Batucada is a substyle of samba and refers to a percussive style, usually performed by an ensemble, known as a bateria. Batucada is characterized by its repetitive style and fast pace. As is Samba, the Batucada is a Brazilian musical expression wit ...

. Pattern 4 is the

maracatu The term maracatu denotes any of several performance genres found in Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil. Main types of maracatu include ''maracatu nação'' (nation-style maracatu) and ''maracatu rural'' (rural-style maracatu). Maracatu Nação Marac ...

bell and can be thought of as pattern 1 embellished with four additional strokes.

In rock music

* Copacabana, popular

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

disco Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric pia ...

song by

Barry Manilow Barry Manilow (born Barry Alan Pincus; June 17, 1943) is an American singer and songwriter with a career that spans seven decades. His hit recordings include "Could It Be Magic", " Somewhere Down the Road", " Mandy", "I Write the Songs", " Can ...

featuring an agogo bell solo in the introduction * Love Rollercoaster, popular

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...

song by

Ohio Players Ohio Players is an American funk band, most popular in the 1970s. They are best known for their songs "Fire (Ohio Players song), Fire" and "Love Rollercoaster", and for their erotic album covers that featured nude or nearly nude women. Many of t ...

featuring a prominent agogo bell *

Soulfly Soulfly is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1997, and later based out of Phoenix, Arizona. Soulfly is led by former Sepultura frontman Max Cavalera, who formed the band after he left the Brazilian group in 199 ...

frontman

Max Cavalera Massimiliano Antonio "Max" Cavalera (; born August 4, 1969) is a Brazilian musician. He co-founded the heavy metal band Sepultura in 1984 with his brother Igor Cavalera, and was the band's lead singer and rhythm guitarist until his departure i ...

played a pair of agogô on the band's debut album.

References

African and African-American Contributions to World Music
(PDF)

External links

Bateria Sounds
{{DEFAULTSORT:Agogo African percussion instruments Bells (percussion) Brazilian percussion Capoeira Central American and Caribbean percussion instruments Hand percussion Idiophones struck directly Metal percussion instruments Samba Unpitched percussion instruments Yoruba musical instruments