Afoxe

The afoxê is an external-seed rattle idiophone of Brazil, most closely associated with the Afro-Brazilian culture of the Bahia region. The primary traditional context of usage of the afoxê in Bahia is for street processions also called afoxê, in which the music of the candomblé religious cult is brought into a secular setting during Carnaval. The afoxê, both in its traditional and modernized design, is also used as an auxiliary percussion instrument by Brazilian popular music artists, in Latin American dance bands, and, more recently, in the Western concert hall and the world music scene.

Afoxé and traditional xequerê are gourds, so they come in different shapes and sizes because they are made of a natural material. Certain musical styles require specific types and sizes of these instruments. The most common shape of afoxés consists of a round gourd that tapers to form a type of handle. They have plastic beads braided around them tied with string or string. Shekereese are usually larger and produce a stronger sound – especially in the bass tone achieved with the palm of the hand touching the longest side of the gourd. Many gourds made today have wooden handles and small metal beads, and produce a sound quite different from the original. Despite this, this modern version of the instrument has already been incorporated into several Brazilian styles. There are as many ways to touch gourds as there are varieties in which they can be found. One way would be for the right hand to hold the handle and rotate the gourd, while the left hand holds the beads – thus obtaining their friction against the body of the gourd. The sliding of the beads when the gourd is turned produces accents and rhythms. Another method involves shaking the gourd and playing tones with the palm of your hand on the instrument's body. A third sound is obtained by holding the gourd straight and shaking it back and forth, producing short, high notes. while the left hand holds the beads – thus obtaining their friction against the body of the gourd. The sliding of the beads when the gourd is turned produces accents and rhythms. Another method involves shaking the gourd and playing tones with the palm of your hand on the instrument's body. A third sound is obtained by holding the gourd straight and shaking it back and forth, producing short, high notes. while the left hand holds the beads – thus obtaining their friction against the body of the gourd. The sliding of the beads when the gourd is turned produces accents and rhythms. Another method involves shaking the gourd and playing tones with the palm of your hand on the instrument's body. A third sound is obtained by holding the gourd straight and shaking it back and forth, producing short, high notes.