Mossi (Burkina Faso) Whistles Wood

Rhythm, tone, and sound remain vital to African culture, ceremony, and lifestyle. Musicians play whistles and other wind instruments with frequency in the areas of Burkina Faso and Ghana. By blowing air across the wide mouthpiece at the bottom of the whistle, in a manner similar to the western flute, Africans can enjoy the melodious tones of the carved whistle. In most cases, whistles can only play one to three notes. Each note is achieved by stopping the flow of air through the two small holes on the side of the object. In some areas of Africa, several whistles would be played at once in order to produce music with a fuller range of tone. As in western culture, whistles prove useful for hunting and are expected components of various traditional ceremonies.