Love music? Enjoy making new things? Then the follow the steps below to make an awesome West African drum. Let’s rock to the rhythm!

 

How to make an African drum

What you’ll need…

Two paper cups
Scissors
Sticky tape
Old newspaper
Flour
Water
Paint
A paintbrush
A balloon
A rubber band
A mixing bowl
String
PVA glue

Step 1

Cut the bottoms out of the cups, then tape the two ends together. Mix a cup of flour with two cups of water and a squirt of glue to make a papier-mâché paste. Tear the newspaper into strips.

Step 2

Now, paint a layer of the paste onto the cups. Next, dip the newspaper strips into the paste, then stick them over the cups until they’re both totally covered.

Step 3

When the papier-mâché has dried, paint the cups white so that the newspaper doesn’t show through. When that’s dry, start decorating your drum – be as creative as you like!

Step 4

Cut a circle out of the plastic bag, stretch it over the top of one end of the cups (this will be the top of the drum), and use the rubber band to hold it in place. Next, trim off the extra plastic around the edges.

Step 5

Wrap a length of string around the middle of the drum several times, then tie it in a knot. Do the same around the top of the drum. Next, weave a new piece of string from the top to the middle of the drum to make a zigzag shape all around it (we added more string to the bottom of the drum, too, for decoration). Now it’s ready to play!Top tip: Why not make some shakers from containers with rice inside, and get your family together to create some cool music?

 

Like our how to make an African drum article? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment, below!

Likes

LEAVE A COMMENT

THANK YOU

Your comment will be checked and approved shortly.

WELL DONE,
YOUR COMMENT
HAS BEEN ADDED!

COMMENTS

  • cool lion

    let's take action

  • Giraffe Girl

    Awesome!

More Like

Countries
SPONSORED

Escape to the Azores with Activities Abroad

From lava lands to swimming with dolphins – enjoy an amazing family holiday to the Azores!
General History

10 Winter Olympics facts!

Find out about this hair-raising international event…
General Entertainment
SPONSORED

Rockford’s Rock Opera

Amazing adventures in sound!
Books
SPONSORED

Jungle Drop

The latest adventure in the Unmapped Chronicles series is now here!