Since its origins in Baghdad in the early 1100s, and its evolution in Senegal during the 1700s, worshipers have played the Tabala drums and sung prayers to its rhythms in order to evoke God's presence.
In Senegal, converts from the Wolof people incorporated traditional Wolof rhythms into Qadiriya worship, to satisfy their own tastes and to communicate Qadiriya messages in the Wolof language. Tabala Wolof is still a widely ritualistic drum, and is played in interlocking rhythms and tuned to inspire ecstatic song, during worship or ceremonial
events. 

On the left you can see seven of our percussionists playing the traditional Tabala drums. The Tabala, originally one in existence, was said to be the drum used to welcome the prophet Mohammed. The Tabala is still used today in senegalese culture as a ceremonial drum, used in various rituals to commemorate the prophet. Though there are only four types/variations of the Tabala, ten have been created for the show's choreography.

The performances of the Sabar usually consists of 7 different types of drums: M'bung M'bung, Sabar N'der, Lambe, Talmbat, Gorong Yeguel, Tama, and Khine. Made primarily of shaved goat skin and 3 types of wood,
the drums are tuned to a system of 7 pegs and are adjusted to create specific melodic rhythms when played in unison. The drummers typically play with only one hand, using a long,thin stick called Galan.

The Sabar are traditionally used for various celebratory rituals (i.e.. weddings, births, funerals, welcoming royalty and political
figures, etc). They were played for United States president George W. Bush apon his visit to Senegal in 2006. Before there was electricity,
in olden days, the Sabala were used as a means of communication between villages, and were drummed high on mountain tops.