in the ensemble. The most popular African drums include the Djembe, Dundun, Bata, and Bougarabou just to highlight a few. Djembe means " everyone gather together in peace" according to Mali people. Throughout Central and South Africa, ngoma ceremonies are used to assist in healing during ceremonies. The rituals involve rhythmic music and dance, and can result in “stress reduction, social support, support of prosocial behaviors, psychodynamic growth, and placebo effect”. Ngoma often serves as a tool to unify the tribe, and assist in health or life transitions and a way to communicate to the spirits. The ngoma drum is also used in Zimbabwe, mainly for traditional dances and celebrations. All of the drums can be played with sticks or hands, except the Nankasa which is primarily played with two sticks. References Mutwa, Credo Vusa'mazulu: My People, My Africa, New York: John Day (1969). Mutwa, Credo Vusa'mazulu: Indaba My Children: African Folktales, Grove Press (1964). University Musical Society's Youth Education Program: "Children of Uganda Teacher Resource Guide" by Bree Juarez. Edited by Bree & Ben Johnson (2005). Berliner, Paul. (1978). The Soul of Mbira: music and traditions of the Shona people of Zimbabwe. Berkeley: University of California Press. Howard, Joseph H. (1967). Drums in the Americas. New York: Oak Publications. Mutwa, Credo Vusa'mazulu. (1969). My People: the incredible writings of Credo Vusa'mazulu Mutwa. Johannesburg : Blue Crane Books, 1969. Tracey, Andrew. (1970). "The Matepe Mbira Music of Rhodesia". Journal of the African Music Society, IV: 4, 37-61. Tracey, Andrew. (1970). How to Play the Mbira (dza vadzimu). Roodepoort, Transvaal, South Africa: International Library of African Music. Tracey, Hugh. (1961). The Evolution of African Music and its Function in the Present Day. Johannesburg: Institute for the Study of Man in Africa. Tracey, Hugh. (1969). "The Mbira class of African Instruments in Rhodesia". African Music Society Journal, 4:3, 78-95. Recordings Columbia Records: Drums of Passion. Liner notes by Akinsola Akiwowo (1958). Additional reading Chamisa, V. (2017). Approaches to the adaptation of Shona ngoma styles in Zimbabwean popular music. African Music, vol. 10, no. 3. External links The Children of Uganda detailed study guide a page from Indaba My Children: African Folktales where the creation of ngoma is described "The Queen's Gift" by Bethan Lewis Royal Museum for Central Africa: Ingoma (drum) African drums Hand drums