What's it about?

African Musical Instruments is an educational children's book written and illustrated by Graphic Designer, Natalie Cooper. It includes 21 full colour illustrations of instruments from mainly sub-Saharan Africa, with a little background on each, looking at when, where, and with whom it originated; when and how it is played; what the instrument is made of and its cultural significance; religious and spiritual usage; and its spread throughout the continent and indeed the world via enslaved Africans. 

Why musical instruments?

Music is an important part of African life with much of the history and culture having been passed on for hundreds of generations and thousands of years through music, which is why instruments are an engaging tangible starting point. 

Who is the book for?

Designed with clean considered typography and layout, this easy to follow book is aimed at anyone interested in musical instruments and different cultures with no 

prior knowledge on the subject. The colouring book version of the same book is aimed at a 7+ audience where the author feels it is most needed.

What else can this book offer me?

Bounds of new and unfamiliar instruments are categorised by an instrument-type icon on each page, as well as a  

comprehensive introduction and glossary for key terms. Dotted with "Did you know?" and other interesting facts, readers can learn about so much more than instruments, for example, that a number of these instruments are linked with or originate in great African kingdoms such as the Kingdom of Kongo, Great Zimbabwe and 
Ancient Egypt. 

What about the African diaspora?

This book is interested generally in African culture, on the Continent and in the diaspora and makes plain the founding and influence in African- Caribbean, American and Latino musical types such as salsa, rumba, reggae, soca, jazz, RnB, country extending to the pop music of today. 

"We call this one a..."

Effort is made in listing different language names for the same instrument not only to aid recognition but to show commonalities and shared cultures despite country borders and national differences; one can see a map of Africa without these borders in the book to demonstrate a unifying principle. 

Music in African Culture

The Spread of African Music

Types of African Music

Singing and Dancing

Musical Regions

Glossary

Musical Instrument Types

21 instruments