Name of Object:

Daff

Location:

Beirut, Lebanon

Holding Institution:

Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music

 About The Lebanese University, Beirut

Date of Object:

19th century

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Wood, metal and animal skin

Provenance:

Lebanon

Description:

The daff, also known as the rikk, is a popular instrument similar to a tambourine. It is made of a round wooden frame, covered on one side with goat or fish skin. Pairs of metal discs are set into the frame to produce a jingling sound when the instrument is struck. It is used to set the rhythm in many traditional Arabic songs, particularly during purely instrumental performances.

Type of Object

Musical instrument; woodwork

Citation of this web page:

Jeff El-Msanne, Hassan El Masri, Remy Nader "Daff" in "Sharing History", Museum With No Frontiers, 2026.
https://sharinghistory.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;AWE;lb;119;en

Prepared by: Jeff El-Msanne, Hassan El Masri, Remy Nader
Copyedited by: Flaminia Baldwin

MWNF Working Number: LB 136