# Udu

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{{Short description|Musical instrument of the Igbo of Nigeria}}
{{Other uses|Udu (disambiguation)}}
thumb|Udu Music
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
thumb|An band percussion pot
thumb|Sound of plastic, or fiberglass Udu
The ''kim-kim'' or '''Udu'''{{IPAc-en|audio=LL-Q33578_(ibo)-Celetex-Udu.wav}} is a plosive [aerophone](/source/aerophone) (in this case implosive) and an [idiophone](/source/idiophone) of the [Igbo](/source/Igbo_people) of [Nigeria](/source/Nigeria). In the Igbo language, ''ùdù'' means 'vessel' or 'pot'.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |date=1999-10-01 |title=Rhythm & beauty:jazz |journal=Choice Reviews Online |volume=37 |issue=2 |pages=37–0844-37-0844 |doi=10.5860/choice.37-0844 |doi-broken-date=1 July 2025 |issn=0009-4978}}</ref> This is a [hand percussion](/source/hand_percussion) instrument and it is one of the most important instruments in [Igbo music](/source/Igbo_music).

== About ==
Early Udu drums were simply water jugs with an additional hole and were played by Igbo women for ceremonial purposes.<ref>{{cite book |last=Nzewi |first=Meki |year=1991 |title=Musical Practice and Creativity: An African Traditional Perspective |publisher=University of Bayreuth |page=68}}</ref> Legend says that the Udu drum was made accidentally because a punched hole was on the side, making it useless. Instead of throwing it away, the owner started to drum it.<ref name=":1" />

== Construction ==
Usually, the Udu is made of [clay](/source/clay). Sometimes, the ashes of relatives are used to make them too,<ref name=":0" /> but it also can be made out of [plastic](/source/plastic) or [glass](/source/glass). Today it is widely used by [percussionist](/source/percussionist)s in many different music styles.

== Playing technique ==
The Udu is played in two primary ways: it is either placed on the lap or secured to a stand using duct tape.<ref name=":1">{{Citation |title=Drums for winding wires and strips for electrical purposes for use in the United Kingdom |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.3403/30307817 |access-date=2024-04-03 |publisher=BSI British Standards|doi=10.3403/30307817 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The player produces a bass sound by quickly striking the larger hole.<ref name="Schlagwerk percussion website">{{cite web |title=Schlagwerk percussion website |url=http://www.schlagwerk.de/produkte/udu-drums/udu-classics/bass-udur-das-original/ |publisher=Schlagwerk |access-date=2 August 2012 |archive-date=7 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407144005/http://www.schlagwerk.de/produkte/udu-drums/udu-classics/bass-udur-das-original |url-status=dead }}</ref> Various pitches can be achieved by adjusting the hand position over the smaller upper hole. Additionally, the body of the instrument can be played using the fingers, creating a diverse range of sounds.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harper |first=R. I. |date=2025-09-14 |title=Udu Drum Guide: Origins, Playing Styles, and Modern Uses |url=https://rareinstrument.com/udu/ |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=RareInstrument.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Udu makers ==

* [Clive Sithole](/source/Clive_Sithole)<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=On Family and Reflection: Clive Sithole at Mid Career |url=https://ceramicartsnetwork.org/ceramics-monthly/ceramics-monthly-article/On-Family-and-Reflection-Clive-Sithole-at-Mid-Career-213741 |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=Default |language=en}}</ref>
* [Eugene Skeef](/source/Eugene_Skeef)<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2016-11-02 |title=Sound Futures: Exploring Contexts for Music Sustainability. {{!}} Loud Mouth - The Music Trust Ezine |url=https://musictrust.com.au/loudmouth/the-world-of-music-new-series-vol-4-2015-1-sound-futures-exploring-contexts-for-music-sustainability/ |access-date=2024-04-09 |language=en-AU}}</ref>
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2020}}
thumb|right|Udus

==See also==
*[Botija](/source/Botija_(instrument)) 
*[Ghatam](/source/Ghatam)
*[Ipu](/source/Ipu)
*[Gagar](/source/Gagar)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}{{Authority control}}

Category:African percussion instruments
Category:Igbo musical instruments
Category:Nigerian musical instruments
Category:Plosive aerophones
Category:Struck idiophones played by hand

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Udu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udu) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udu?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.