35 Traditional African Songs for Tongue Drum and Handpan: Play by Number

The steel tongue drum (aka tong drum, tank drum, gluck-o-phone, hapi, or steeldrum) and the handpan (aka hank drum, UFO drum, zen drum, meditation, healing, or chakra drum) are percussion musical instruments designed to help you focus on your feelings, sensations, and body. You don’t need classical music training or knowledge of music theory to play them. The main purpose is relaxation, meditation, and traveling through your inner world. This e-book is aimed at those who want to add popular melodies to their experimentation.

The Famous African Songs were adapted here for Tongue Drum and Handpan. I believe that African songs, due to their clear rhythmic patterns, are ideal for tongue and hang drums.

These songs are possible to play on most drum models.

I wrote the note numbers above the notes because my sheet music is aimed at absolute beginners. Just follow numbers and enjoy.

Also, I added a QR code to most songs. Follow the link and find this song on YouTube, so that you can listen to the rhythm before beginning to play.

For which tongue drum are these songs suitable?

Each tongue drum is very different and it is impossible to accommodate songs for all kinds of tongue drums in one e-book.

The songs which have been collected in this e-book can be played on most drum models. If you have less than 1 octave of keys on your drum, you may need to skip some songs. However, if your drum has many sharp notes, you will need a e-book that contains chromatic songs.
Here, I have collected only simplified diatonic melodies.

Contents

Achta ta ta ta ta. Song from Morocco
A Ram Sam Sam. Song from Morocco
Askari Eee. Song from Tanzania
Atadwe. Song from Ghana
Banaha. Song from Congo
Banuwa. Song from Liberia
Bebe Moke. Song from Congo
Before Dinner. Song from Congo
Che Che Koolay. Song from Ghana
Coco Laye-Laye. Song from Congo
Do Do Ki Do. Song from Cameroon
Eh Soom Boo Kawaya. Song from Nigeria
Famba Naye. Song from Zimbabwe
Funga Alafia. Song from Ghana
Iro Ye. Song from Benin
Kanzenzenze. Song from Congo
Kotiko. Song from Congo
L’abe igi orombo. Song from Nigeria
Manamolela. Song from South Africa
Mayo Nafwa. Song from Zambia
Obwisana. Song from Ghana
Plouf Tizen Tizen. Song from Algeria
Sansa Kroma. Song from Ghana
Sélinguenia. Song from Kenya
Shosholoza. Song from South Africa
Si Ma Ma Ka. Song from Ghana
Sindi. Song from Burkina Faso
Siyahamba. Song from South Africa
Siyanibingelela. Song from South Africa
Stick Passing Song. Song from Uganda
Umele. Song from South Africa
Wa Wa Wa. Song from Congo
Welcome Song. Song from Uganda
Zimbole. Song from South Africa
Zomina. Song from Togo