Qraqeb or garagab (Arabic: قراقب), often written in English as krakeb, are large iron musical instruments shaped like castanets. They are used to create rhythm in Gnawa music. Gnawa is a type of music that is an important part of North African culture and is a key feature of the Maghrebi soundscape. The word "qraqeb" is a plural form, with "qarqab" as the singular. The origin of the word is not clear, as it does not appear in Standard Arabic with this meaning.

Cultural significance

Gnawa music is a spiritual tradition that reflects the history of people from West Africa south of the Sahara who were taken as slaves to areas in present-day Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, and the Greater Maghreb. The sound of krakebs, a type of instrument, is said to remind listeners of the footsteps of horses and the noise of shackles that enslaved people endured. These instruments also symbolize the freedom that some slaves eventually gained. Specific rhythms played by Gnawa musicians using Qarqabat (often with hajhuj or sintir) represent this journey from captivity to freedom.

Body

Krakeb are similar to large iron castanets because they are handheld instruments that look like cymbals. They are made by hand from iron or steel. These instruments are called idiophones, which means their sound is created by the vibration of the instrument itself. The body of a Krakeb has four cymbals—two on each side—connected by a string. Since they are played using one hand, musicians typically hold one Krakeb in each hand to play both at the same time.

Playing

In the Gnawa style, krakeb remain closed between strikes so that the sound of the instrument closing quickly is the most noticeable. In Tunisia, krakeb are struck and then pulled apart rapidly so that the ringing sound of the instrument is the most noticeable. Usually, one sintir (guimbri) is played with up to 20 krakeb players in a Gnawa group. Curtis Blues demonstrates examples of these playing styles, as well as other cultural meanings of the instrument in the video below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO-9nzR79pc