Shekere is an instrument from West Africa consisting of a dried gourd with beads woven into a net covering the gourd.
Throughout the continent there are similar gourd/bead or gourd/seed percussion instruments.
The shekere is made from vine gourds that grow on the ground. The shape of the gourd determines the sound of the instrument.
A shekere is made by drying the gourd for several months then removing the pulp and seeds. After it is scrubbed, skillful bead work is added as well as color.
The instrument is used for folkloric traditions as well as some of the popular music styles. In performance it is shaken and or hit against the hands.
In Cuba, it called chekeré. In Brazil, this African gourd rattle is called xequere.