Second Grade Aslatua
Price range: $15.00 through $27.00
These aslatua have had a small crack repaired and sealed to ensure they remain fully functional. The repair does not affect the sound or playability. The price has been adjusted to reflect the imperfection.
The Aslatua comes from Ghana, West Africa. It’s a pocket-sized shaker filled with pebbles, giving it a sharp, crisp sound. With practice you can get two different rhythms going, one on each side.
Check out our sizing details and a captivating demo video below >>
More Details
Pronounced “us-la-twa,” this instrument goes by several names depending on the region: asalato, kashaka, cascas, televi, kasso-kassoni. It comes from Ghana. The gourds grow on the Swawa tree. Once they dry and drop, children gather them and pass them on to elders, who hollow them out and pack them with orange pebbles pulled from the iron-rich soil of the Sahel.
Aslatua are played by holding and shaking one gourd in the palm while swinging the second gourd around, creating both sandy shaking sounds and percussive clicks when the two connect. They are typically played in pairs (one in each hand) and are capable of producing complex polyrhythms.
Finding the Right Size For You
On average, the correct string length will be found by taking the width of your palm at the base of the fingers and adding 1cm.
If you’re uncertain, feel free to provide your palm measurements and hand size in the comments section of the order, and we will do our best to choose the perfect aslatua for you.
LISTEN TO THIS INSTRUMENT
We recommend using good quality headphones for all our sound grabs – they’re recorded at high quality for your listening pleasure!
NEED ADVICE?
You’re welcome to email us info@africandrumming.co.nz
