Nagarit. (Amh.ነጋሪት, néggarät, Orom. nagaariita is a kettledrum, the name of which is considered to derive from Amh. |K:, näggärä, ‘to speak’ (Ashenafi Kebede 199563 LesCDic 392. Alternatively, it can be related to the Arab. naqqara, which is also a term for kettledrum (cf. BassHist 61, n. 2 [tr.] a double kettledrum called naqqara is known in North Africa, e.g. among the Tuareg of the Sahara.

There appears to be two main types of N. in Ethiopia. One is the large cauldron shaped Nagarit. usually made of copper (sometimes gilded, or other metal. The drumhead, having a diameter of up to 92 cm, is struck with softheaded wood en drumsticks (one or two or mallets. The Nagarit. has a head consisting of a stretched membrane hide mounted on a hoop held in place by a ring (counterhoop) through the ring pass threaded screws or rods that allow one to alter the pitch by adjusting the skin’s tension. Sometimes an L shaped turnkey is fitted to the screw for loos ening or tightening the stretched membrane on the head. The Nagarit. were placed across the backs of mules with the players walking alongside striking them with mallets (Tesfaye Lemma 1975-28). The Nagarit. of the other type are bowl-shaped, usually smaller and made from carved wood or hollowed tree trunks although the body can also be made of clay, leather, or metal. The  bowl-shape has a diameter ranging from 15 to 25 cm. The drum head uses prepared animal skin (or parchment) such as ox stretched over the head, but the skin can cover the entire instrument and be sewn together with cross cords tied round the middle of the lacing to increase its tension and alter its pitch  (Marcuse  1975-357.  These Nagarit. were played with beaters/sticks by men riding on horseback, where Nagarit. were placed at the player’s waist and secured by a belt or harness (Tesfaye Lemma 1975-28).

The Nagarit. of both types utilize a basic rounded curved (bowl or cauldron shape and have the capacity to have their drum heads tuned. The stretched head is attached to the top of the head or in the case of the second type, covers the head or the entire body. Size and materials determine the overall sound of the Nagarit.

The Negarit of the Betä Ésraýel, structurally iden tical to the Christian Nagarit., was a double-headed drum struck directly with the hands while the player was standing. Together with a small bell called qafiél, it could accompany religious service chanting (Shelemay 1986-76f., 184f).

Historically, Nagarit. in Ethiopia belonged to the insignia of royalty and symbols of political power, alongside with mäläkät and émbilta (also, the instrument known as qända  a small drum held under the arm and beaten with the hand has been included as one of the royal insignia.Nagarit. accompanied every imperial proclamation or announcement and were often left standing near the throne. When a new emperor ascended to the throne, and when proclamations of national concern (Awag) were made, the Nagarit., together with the mäläkät and the émbilta, would sum mon the people and proclaim the news. Nagarit. also heralded the approach of royalty or a person invested with political authority (like provincial governors). The kings and rulers sometimes donated their Nagarit. to churches and monasteries, as in the case of crowns (CRHist 79 [text]. Finally, Nagarit. were war drums, used to summon the troops and to encourage them during combat they were considered symbols of military honour (s., e.g. GueCopMen 28, n. 1, 431, 436, 444) tached to the top of the head or in the case of thesecond type, covers the head or the entire body. Size and materials determine the overall sound of the Nagarit.

 

The Nagarit. of the Betä Ésraýel, structurally identical to the Christian Nagarit., was a double headed drum struck directly with the hands while the player was standing. Together with a small bell called qafiél, it could accompany religious service chanting (Shelemay 1986-76f., 184f).

 

Finally, Nagarit. were war drums, used to summon the troops and to encourage them during combat they were considered symbols of military honour (s., e.g. GueCopMen 28, n. 1, 431, 436, 444)of beaten silver the Abyssinians say, that this metal alone is capable of conveying the sweet sound contained in a proclamation of peace” (BruNile vol. 1, 602.

Generally, the Ethiopian ruler gave a Nagarit. to a newly appointed governor or a tribal chief confirmed by him. Thus, after ase Iyasu II granted Hébtes, the head of the Habab in Northern Eritrea, the title of käntebay (s. Käntiba and presented him with an Nagarit. and other insignia of this rank, Nagarit. came to be a symbol of the käntebay’s power, and its possession an essential element in the struggle for the title (d’Avray 1996-50f.,  2000-19.  Likewise,  Nagarit.  or  similar drums were symbols of the king’s power among the southern peoples, e.g., nägara among Šeko (VSAe III, 46. Nagarit. (one of silver and another of copper) were among the symbols of power of the king of Käfa (s. GueCopMen 463). The Oromo and Somali also used Nagarit., and among them it also served as a symbol of power (Paulitschke 1893-148). In the Tégre-speaking tribe of MänsaC, Nagarit. could be used to accompany important announcements such as the declara- tion of a slave becoming a free man (s. Höfner 1952-658) Rodén 1913-101).Today, the instrument’s function is primarily ceremonial (Ashenafi Kebede 1995-63).Instruments, musical  Music..

Source: 

Encyclopaedia-Aethiopica

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