Abeng

For the Jamaican newspaper, see Abeng (newspaper). For the 1984 novel by Michelle Cliff, see Abeng (novel).

An Abeng is an animal horn or musical instrument in the language of the Akan people. The word abeng is from the Twi language in modern-day Ghana, it is a commonly used word in the Caribbean, especially Jamaica, and the instrument is associated with the Maroon people.[1]

The Maroons of Jamaica used the horn to communicate over great distances in ways that couldn't be understood by people outside the community.

Today the abeng is made from cattle horn and is still used in Maroon communities on ceremonial occasions or to announce important news.[2]

  1. ^ Cassidy, Frederic Gomes; Page, Robert Brock Le (2002). Dictionary of Jamaican English. University of the West Indies Press. ISBN 9789766401276.
  2. ^ Senior, Olive (2003). Encyclopedia of Jamaican heritage. St. Andrew, Jamaica, W.I.: Twin Guinep Publishers. ISBN 9768007141. OCLC 53403184.