The gumbe drum arrived in Sierra Leone with the Krio people - descendants of freed enslaved Africans from across the Atlantic who settled in Freetown from the late 1700s onwards. They brought musical traditions with them from many different places, and those traditions blended together to create the gumbe music style. The unique square drum became the symbol of this rich cultural fusion.
Gumbe music is joyful and communal. At a gumbe performance, the drum provides the heartbeat while singers, dancers and smaller percussion instruments respond around it. The music is associated with celebrations, storytelling and the preservation of Krio cultural identity. Learning to play the gumbe drum is considered an important skill in many families.
Today, gumbe music is being celebrated and preserved by musicians who are proud of its unique place in Sierra Leonean culture. Schools and cultural organisations teach children gumbe drumming and dance, making sure this beautiful tradition - born from a remarkable meeting of cultures in Freetown - continues to thrive for future generations.