Agwel

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments the *Agwel* is a captivating late 19th-century goblet drum from Morocco. Crafted from clay, this single-headed membranophone stands at 15.2 cm high with a 14 cm diameter, embodying the ingenuity of traditional North African craftsmanship. Its elegant, flared shape—wider at the base and narrowing toward the taut skin head—allowed for resonant, rhythmic beats that could fill communal gatherings. In Moroccan culture, instruments like the *Agwel* played vital roles in social and ritual music, from celebrati...