The brekete is a closed double-headed cylindrical snare-drum. It is made
from one single piece of wood and has a snare on one side. Both membranes are
stretched across the heads of the drum with laced ropes. The brekete drum
bears decorative elements and has a cloth wound around it, like the Dagomba.
The brekete is approximately 60 cm long and has a diameter of 45 cm. It has a
full bass tone and is ideally suited to accompany dances.
The drum is carried underneath the left arm with a strap and is struck
with a wooden stick held in the right hand. The membrane can also be damped
with the fingertips.
The brekete drum is related to the djun djung from Nigeria, the dundun of the Mande, and the gungon of the Dagomba. The Dagomba have a smaller version of the brekete drum, called the gungon bla.
© RMCA/Dominik PHYFFEROEN