An agogô (Yoruba: ['aɡoɡo]) is a type of bell used as a percussion instrument. It originated in West African music and is now often used in both traditional and modern Brazilian music. Agogôs are usually made from two cone-shaped metal pieces that make different sounds.

Etymology

The word agogô comes from West Africa. The Edo, Idoma, Igala, and Yoruba people of Nigeria use the term ágogo to describe a bell that has one or two parts and does not have a clapper. A larger group of similar bells without clappers is called òjè, which means "iron" in their language. The name of the instrument and the knowledge of how to make it were brought to the Americas by enslaved people from West Africa.

Construction

The agogô was originally made from wrought iron, but today it is made from many types of metals and sizes to create different sounds. The bells of a metal agogô are made by shaping flat pieces of sheet iron into cone shapes. Two bells are then joined together using a U-shaped metal piece. Each bell is a different length, which allows each bell to make a different musical note when struck. The pitch of the note depends on the length of the bell: longer bells make a lower sound, and shorter bells make a higher sound. Another factor that affects the sound is how thick the metal is. Thicker metal makes less vibration, while thinner metal vibrates more easily.

Playing

To play the agogô, hold the instrument in one hand with the handle in your palm. The open parts of the bells should face away from the player, and the smaller bell should be placed above the larger one. The bells can be hit with a drumstick or another beater made of wood or metal.

Uses

Drums are an important part of Yoruba music, which plays a key role in Yoruba culture and religious traditions. The âgogo is a major instrument in Ìpèsè, a group of drums used during Ifá festivals. This group also performs during ceremonies to honor the gods. The âgogo is also used in several Yoruba music styles, including Juju, Afro-juju, Apala, Fuji, and others. Nigerian musicians often use the âgogo to share traditional Yoruba music with more people.

Enslaved people from West Africa were the first to bring the agogô to Brazil. In Brazil, the instrument is used in religious traditions that originated from Africa, such as Candomblé, and to support capoeira, a martial art from Africa. Along with European instruments like the seven-string guitar and native instruments like maracas, the âgogo was an important part of musical groups in the 1920s. It is also used in samba baterias, which are drum groups that play during Carnival celebrations. Many Brazilian and Afro-Brazilian musicians include the âgogo in their songs to create rhythms and sounds typical of Afro-Brazilian music.