Fontomfrom is a
Bono
Paul David Hewson (born 10 May 1960), known by the nickname Bono ( ), is an Irish singer-songwriter and activist. He is a founding member, the lead vocalist, and primary lyricist of the rock band U2. Bono is known for his impassioned voca ...
type of
hourglass-shaped drum mostly used in a royal music ensemble of
Bono people
The Bono, also known as the Brong or Abron, are an Akan people of central Ghana and northeastern Ivory Coast. They speak the Bono Twi and form one of the largest matrilineal Akan groups. Historically, the Bono were the first Akan to develop a ...
in order to relay Bono monarchy messages within a Bono people ethnic group setting. The Fontomfrom ensemble provides music for ceremonies honoring Bono chiefs and Bono monarchy royal processions. The Fontomfrom is also used to recite proverbs or replicate patterns of speech at most Bono monarchy royal gatherings or a Bono
monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which a person, the monarch, reigns as head of state for the rest of their life, or until abdication. The extent of the authority of the monarch may vary from restricted and largely symbolic (constitutio ...
royal
durbar.
The Fontomfrom evolved from the popular hourglass-shaped drum (
talking drum
The talking drum is an hourglass-shaped drum from West Africa, which can be used as a form of speech surrogacy by regulating its pitch and rhythm to mimic the tone and prosody of human speech. It has two drumheads connected by leather t ...
) of the 7th century. Shortly after the evolution, a few more non-hourglass shapes such as the Dunan,
Sangban,
Kenkeni and
Ngoma drums were produced.
Prior to the Fontomfrom becoming part of the Bono royal music ensemble as it is today, it was first introduced into
Bonoman
Bono State (also known as Bonoman) was the first centralized Akan state, founded by the Bono people in what is now central Ghana. Bonoman is generally considered a cultural, political ancestor and origin to Akan subgroups that migrated southwar ...
by Bonohene Akumfi Ameyaw I and Bonohemaa Owusuaa Abrafi circa 1320s, from
North Africa
North Africa (sometimes Northern Africa) is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region. However, it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of t ...
. As they love dancing and music, the Bono people introduced this drum to entertain themselves.
[ Since its inception and use, the single, large Fontomfrom drum has grown to become an ensemble of several drums, and given its formidable size (up to 2 meters in height or more), its image can be used to symbolise the grandeur of traditional African cultures.]
References
External links
Video: Fontomfrom at Asafo PalaceVideo: Fontomfrom , Hip Hop Generation Next Block Party '12 , Dancing in the Streets
African drums
Ashanti people
Ashanti musical instruments
West African musical instruments
Drums
Musical instruments
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