Introduction to Music
Primary 4 · Creative Arts
Introduction to Music
Lesson 4 of 5
25 min
Let's begin
At her aunt's wedding in Kigali, Umutoni hears soft music from a wooden instrument. A man sits with it on his lap and sings in a gentle, whispery voice. Later, the drums start and dancers jump high into the air. "Rwanda has so much music!" Umutoni says.
Rwandan drums are called ingoma. They are carved from wood and covered with cow skin. Drummers usually play them with sticks. Drums come in different sizes: the big ones make low, deep sounds and the small ones make higher sounds. A drum group plays together at weddings, festivals and national events, and it can be heard from far away.
The inanga is a long, shallow wooden board with one very long string threaded back and forth over it, so it looks like six to eight strings. The player sits and rests it on the lap, then plucks the strings with the fingers. The inanga player usually sings at the same time, softly telling stories about history, heroes or everyday life. The inanga is one of the most respected instruments in Rwanda, and today both men and women play it.
You met the umuduri in the last lesson. It is a bow with one string and a gourd. The player hits the string with a thin stick and often holds a small rattle in the same hand, so you hear notes and a shaking sound together.
Intore is a famous Rwandan dance, often called the dance of heroes. The dancers wear long headdresses that look like a lion's mane, and they carry a wooden spear and shield. They wear rattles made of seed pods on their legs, so every stamp of their feet adds to the music. A group of drums plays strong rhythms, and the dancers leap and stamp in time with the beat.
Long ago, intore dancers were trained not only in the steps but also in good behaviour, like courage and respect. Today intore is danced at celebrations and national events. In 2024 it was added to UNESCO's list of the world's important living traditions.
Tip
Hit, pluck, strike, stamp. Ingoma are hit with sticks. The inanga is plucked with fingers. The umuduri's string is struck with a thin stick. Intore dancers stamp the beat with their feet.
Try each one first, then tap Show answer to check.
What is the skin on an ingoma drum usually made from?
Answer: Cow skin.
How do you play the inanga?
Answer: You sit with it on your lap and pluck the strings with your fingers, usually while singing.
Which instrument has a gourd attached to a bow?
Answer: The umuduri.
Why do intore dancers wear rattles on their legs?
Answer: So every stamp of their feet adds a sound to the music, in time with the drums.
At which events do people in Rwanda play drums and dance intore?
Answer: Weddings, festivals, celebrations and national events.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
The wedding story, examples and practice questions were written by Ganzaa.
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Quick check
Match each name to what it is.
Tap one on the left, then its partner on the right.
