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From the African tradition, Shekeres (pronounced "shaker-ays") are
traditionally a netting of beads, seeds or even small stones hung loosely
on a gourd. They make a wonderful variety of sounds, depending on how they
are played, from a sharp, loud percussion when shaken hard or hit against the
hand to a gentle "shuuushing" when the netting of beads is slid
rhythmically against the gourd. We use glass beads to create small shekeres,
from 2-1/2" to 3" eggs, when we can get them, to perhaps 6"
by 15" ... and they grow in a wonderful array of shapes, as you see from the picture above.
