Bembe

Bembe is a critical component of Afro-Cuban folkloric culture. It is part of the Yoruba musical system, and is used to accompany the same songs as bata drums, but it has a much more common usage than bata, and is found in a wide variety of forms throughout all of Cuba.  It is more “folk” music in that sense because unlike bata drummers who need to go through a difficult initiation and training in order to play, almost anyone can learn the basic patterns to bembe, and as such it is more open to “recruits” to participate.
It is generally always played to the standard 6/8 bell pattern, but has a wide stylistic variety from around the island—in some cases  the players use sticks, some use hands, some use sticks and hands, some use two drums for the lead part, and so forth.  The common thread is that this style accompanies songs for the orishas, or the Yoruba deities in the religion known as “la regla de ocha”.
  • Bembe with Sticks
    This is actually the most traditional form of the bembes in Cuba, and is found in the province of Matanzas. There are “cabildos” (ethnic and cultural societies) that are centered around consecrated bembe drums and the playing of them to a particular oricha (deity). In this style, there is always at least one bell player, but sometime they add a counterpoint bell as well.  The support drums are always played with sticks, and the lead drum, which is always the lowest is played with one hand and one stick.  In the cabildo that plays the style known as “makawa”, the soloist actually uses two drums, one tuned much below the other. And changes the basic pattern depending on whether the songs being accompanied are for a male or female deity.
  • Bembe with Hands
    This is probably the most generic way that people in Cuba play for songs and dancers for the oricha. The lead drum is once again tuned the lowest, and can indeed get quite complex in its variations, particularly in the hands of a highly skilled player. But the support parts are generally fairly basic, and don’t require a high level of rhythmic sophistication, so it is open to wide general participation. The style uses the basic 12/8 bell pattern, and frequently a maraca or even a small chekere to mark the time.
  • Bembe-Songs
    Songs with Bembe accompainment.