Bakhjuls

Bakhjuls is a traditional percussion instrument described in ethnographic sources as a circular frame drum with jingles. The term appears in multiple regional inventories and is used in various languages with minor spelling differences. Because sources differ in classification, bakhjuls is best understood as a family of related instruments rather than a single, uniform device. Etymological notes are inconclusive, and the word likely derives from local terms for beat, ring, or drum.

Construction and variants: A typical bakhjuls features a wooden hoop, a drumhead made from skin or synthetic material, and a rim fitted with small metal jingles around most of its circumference. Sizes range from roughly 20 to 40 centimeters in diameter. Some variants have two drum heads or additional rings of jingles; decorations and strap systems vary by community.

Playing and use: The instrument is usually struck with the hand, producing a combination of drum tone and jingling sounds. It can be played as a solo instrument or as part of folk ensembles alongside other percussion and melodic instruments. In many traditions, bakhjuls accompany dances, processions, and ritual songs, with regional styles shaping sticking patterns and tessitura.

Notes on status: Bakhjuls are valued as expressions of local craft and musical heritage. Contemporary use spans community celebrations to fusion genres, though documentation is uneven and regional definitions can diverge. Further fieldwork could clarify the scope of the term and standardize classification within the broader family of frame drums.