congaplace.com

Posted: **Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:08 pm**

Im in the market for one of those Big ass Shekere , similar to the one I saw JC playing on his You tube vids.
I have checket Google and found a few places who make custom ones which would be cool . but all of these places are not her in the UK . can anyone recomend a good supplier . Id love to make my own and would consider a supplier of Gourds but it would have to be a Jumbo size . I have a medium sized one ATM it is good but have got this urge to buy a Big Ass one

Marco ???

Posted: **Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:21 pm**

Congadelicia , I have some for sale. Take a look at the pics.

First the big gourd I can customize it with your colors , deity, and pattern as long as it doesn't become to complicated . I also plan to burn a primal design around the lip.
Paz
OLSONGO

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... gourd2.jpg

Posted: **Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:24 pm**

Here are 2 recent ones with out the burned designs on the lip.

They are sitting on top of a cajon.

Olsongo

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... -SHEKS.jpg

Posted: **Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:23 pm**

Olsongo,
Those look great, I really like the one on the left and the way you treated the very top, simple and clean.
I can see your skill in the evenness of the knots.
Here's one I built, not as big as that one gourd you're holding but it's big.
I have two smaller ones I'm making right now.

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... -gourd.JPG

Posted: **Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:12 am**

Olsongo. :p they are Big for sure . I like the red white one on the left second pic . BNB nice too .

So Olsongo Im interested Ill pm you if thats ok.

Marco

Posted: **Sat Jan 26, 2008 4:18 am**

I'm also looking for 1 possibly 2 shekere. I've been shopping around locally and can't find anything around here that is even close to acceptable quality. Olsongo, do you ship to Canada? Since you mentioned that you can customize for a certain deity I'm thinking of Babalu Aye.

Edited By Chupacabra on 1201321405

Posted: **Sat Jan 26, 2008 5:00 pm**

Just googled Babalu Aye's bead colors: Brown, Black, and Purple
Nice!

The gourds look great you guys!! Nice work!

Posted: **Sat Jan 26, 2008 5:20 pm**

Chupacabre I sent you a private e-mail

Paz

Olsongo

Posted: **Sun Jan 27, 2008 2:34 am**

Hey Olsongo,
Received and replied, thank-you.
Heh!, I was just looking at a smaller size shekere (about 10 or 12" dia) in a small music shop in town and you wouldn't believe how much of a piece of crap it was! I wouldn't pay 25 cents, never mind the $75 they were asking! It looked like horses were playing hackey-sack with it and the webbing was so loose it was almost falling off! And judging by the small amount of plain, white beads on it they must be the same price as gold!
If you are able to make a really nice shekere like the ones in the photos for a reasonable price, not only will you be able to sell a couple to me - you can probably count on some more requests from other students of African and Afro-Cuban music here in Vic, once the word gets out.

Do you have any other photos?

And BNB, that is also a fine looking shekere you've made there.

Edited By Chupacabra on 1201401382

Posted: **Sun Jan 27, 2008 4:09 am**

Thanks Chupacabra,
Thats my first one, I'm making another one, much smaller. After making my own, I can really appreciate the skill Olsongo has, his knots are much more even than mine.
Making your own shekere is a lot of fun, it's pretty cheap, a gourd will run you about $10, and the string and beads about another $10-$15. It's the labor that makes a shekere expensive.
My shekere used about 1,400 beads, no kidding. Plastic pony beads are cheap.
A shekere takes TIME! and PATIENCE.
If your into that sort of thing, I recommend making your own. If Olsongo's price is reasonable, those look like first class shekeres, and would easily have a price of $100-$150 in a store, maybe more?

Posted: **Sun Jan 27, 2008 4:17 am**

I could see myself taking on a job like that, for sure! I would like to find some instructions or someone around here who knows how to make them to learn from. It probably wouldn't be to hard to find a gourd. Where do they grow, anyway?

Posted: **Sun Jan 27, 2008 4:47 am**

To find gourds is no problem, they grow all over the place. What I have found hard to locate are the big and thick shell ones. Sometimes they are big, but too thin. Theres is also plenty of small ones.

Paz, Olsongo

Posted: **Sun Jan 27, 2008 5:41 am**

I make gourd decorations and a shekere once and the gourd farms locate in FL out near tampa and the other in CA has a big selection. Not sure if they will ship to the UK , but their prices are cheap.

I buy most from these guys;

http://www.gourdfarmer.com/contact

I've made about a dozen purple martin birdhouse with gourd from them. They will try to accomendate you the best they can.

Posted: **Sun Jan 27, 2008 4:37 pm**

Chupacabra wrote:I could see myself taking on a job like that, for sure! I would like to find some instructions or someone around here who knows how to make them to learn from. It probably wouldn't be to hard to find a gourd. Where do they grow, anyway?

There's a ton of good directions all over the internet. Making a shekere is a pretty simple process, just time consuming and tedious, fun though.

Olsongo is right, getting the right gourd is crucial. It's nice to get a really round one, lot's of times they have a dent.

Playing music on an instrument you made yourself is great!

http://www.anwd.net/make-a-shakere/index.html

http://www.sekere.com/

http://www.drums.org/djembefaq/v8b.htm

http://www.ibiblio.org/musicians/botsford/educators/shekere/

Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1201453804

Posted: **Mon Jan 28, 2008 2:17 am**

Thanks for the info and the links! I now intend on starting my search for shekere making materials. In the meantime, I'll still be buying a larger sized one to get us something to practise with. The first one I attempt will likely be a smaller one.
I kind of figured there would be resources on the internet; I haven't even thought of looking on YouTube to see if there are any vids on "skirting" a gourd. I figure if I can head a rope-tuned drum I should be able to handle a shekere with a bit of guidance the first time.
And as for playing a self-made instrument? I LOVE it! Even if it does cost the same or more money than buying it from someone!

congaplace.com

Shekere `s