Kori

The kori is a closed pot-shaped gourd drum, the membrane of which is stretched over the opening of a gourd and tightened by means of ropes and pegs.
The kori drums are subdivided according to the size of the gourd:

• the kornia: kori drum with the lowest tone (picture on the left);
• the korbala: kori drum with the highest tone (picture on the right);

The korbala drum has a diameter of 50 cm and a depth of 30 cm and has a high clear tone. The kornia drum has a diameter of 70 cm and a depth of 50 cm and has a low but still fairly clear tone.
A rope is attached to the kori drum and worn around the neck.
It supports and accompanies dances such as the nagila and the jongo and it also accompanies women's songs. The kori drum is played with the hands, the palm of the hand and the fingertips.

© RMCA/Dominik PHYFFEROEN