If Tobago were an independent nation the Tambrin (Tambourine) would feature as the national instrument. The instrument was created by slaves on the island who were trying to fill a void created by the confiscation of their drums.

In continuance of their African traditions, slaves used drums to communicate when they arrived on the island. However the slave master feared that the beating of the drums was a signal of uprising and possible insurrection and banned the drums. However the need to communicate with each other did not die but burned strong in the hearts of the slaves.

Coincidentally, at the time of the confiscation, Christian missionaries journeyed to the plantation to convert the slaves to their particular religion. When the members of the Salvation Army visited Tobago they brought with them an interesting implement that caught the attention of the slaves. As accompaniment to their singing, the members of the army carried circular instruments, covered with skin and ringed with bells. They shook and beat these strange instruments to get and keep a rhythm.

The slaves thought that this was an excellent replacement for the drum and set about making their own.

At that time cheese was stored in circular boxes. When the cheese was finished the slaves kept the boxes for their own purposes. The skins of animals killed on the plantation for food were then used to cover the empty cases.

However the boxes were not very durable and the tambrins did not last very long.

Another idea came to mind when some of the slaves decided that their garden produce could come in handy. They decided to use Wild Cassava, a watery vine that grew in the forest, to try the tambrins. The watery consistency of the vine made it very supple and easy to bend. The vine was then cut into lengths of approximately two feet and bent into a circular shape.

This was the beginning of the Tobago tambrin - an instrument totally constructed out of indigenous materials and unique to the island.

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