Owner: HWMC
Catalog#: 2AF-MBST-39
Struck Membranophones
Morocco 'Tara’ij' Hand Drum (C)
Morocco
Moroccan
Glazed ceramic, polychrome pigment, animal skin
Mid 20th century
Length: 11.5 in; Diameter: 5.15 in (at head)
Membranophone – Struck (Directly) – Single Headed
This shoulder drum called tara’ij has a goatskin head and a glazed body with colorful designs. In some areas, tara’ij are traditionally given to children at the holiday of Aashura, a major (Islamic) religious commemoration of the martyrdom at Karbala of Hussein. Boy’s drums have plain baked-clay tubes and girl’s drums are painted in brightly colored patterns as shown in this drum.