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      Warabadon - djembe and dundun parts

      I can explain the context of the Warabadon rhythm and can perform the rhythms in compound time using untuned percussion.

      Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and

      Lesson 4 of 6
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      • Year 8

      Warabadon - djembe and dundun parts

      I can explain the context of the Warabadon rhythm and can perform the rhythms in compound time using untuned percussion.

      Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and

      Lesson details

      Key learning points

      1. Warabadon is a dance rhythm which originates in Burkina Faso.
      2. It is in 12/8 so the rhythms have a shuffle feel.
      3. 12/8 is in compound time, where the beat is divided into groups of three quavers rather than two (like in simple time).
      4. Performing the Warabadon rhythm, changing rhythms between the different sections.

      Keywords

      • Warabadon - a rhythm from Burkina Faso, often played at weddings

      • Compound time - when each beat of the bar is divided into three quavers rather than two

      • 12/8 - a compound time signature with twelve quavers in a bar; these quavers are in four groups of three

      • Shuffle - a triplet rhythm in which only the first and third notes are played, skipping the middle one

      Common misconception

      Swapping comfortably and accurately from one rhythm to another with the overall structure.

      This is quite tricky as the strucutre is complex. Break it down for pupils so they learn each section comfortably and encourage them to practise going from one rhythm to the next and think about strategies for remembering the rhythms.

      The dundun parts are more complex and will take time to put together with the djembe parts. Break down the rhythms so pupils can see and hear how each section works together. The Warabadon can work without adding the dundun parts and pupils can be encouraged to make up their own rhythms instead.
      Teacher tip

      Equipment

      Djembe and dunduns can be replaced with bass, mid and treble versions of any untuned percussion. You can also use cupped hands (bass), palm clap (tone) and full clap (slap) as an alternative.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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      Lesson appears in

      UnitMusic / Djembe drumming and rhythms from the regions of West Africa