Interview by Rui Pastorin
In 2013, local nature and music lover Dave Wan (尹均球) was gifted a pair of African asalatos, piquing his interest to learn how to play the percussion instrument. He formed a deeper connection with it when his son was born, seeing the happiness the instrument brought whenever he played it, igniting a desire to go deeper, hoping to play it together one day.
Today, Wan, the founder of the woodworking shop “Zawood”, a percussionist and a member of local band Náv, has around 12 years of playing experience and is inseparable from his asalato. And he hopes to share knowledge about the instrument, its benefits and his passion with others.
Wan told his story and insights into the instrument to the Post during a recent interview at Zawood on Pátio do Coronel Mesquita (美上校圍).
Asalato?
The asalato may look like a simple instrument, but it has many techniques and possibilities and even offers integration with other music, Wan said. Small and portable, the instrument features a deep and very complex rhythm, along with a special way of playing, he said.
Wan said that the asalato originates from West Africa and is a very natural instrument used as a toy for children, with the Zawood website noting that traditionally it consists of the dried fruit of the African oncoba spinosa tree and is connected by a rope, altogether having three parts: two balls, a short rope, and grains or seeds inside each ball.
To play it, you need to swing your hands backwards and forwards and strike each ball with each other, creating a clacking sound accompanied by the shaking of the seeds, grains or beans, with Wan pointing out that it has a very characteristic sound. “When you hear it, you know that it’s the asalato”.
Being a traditional instrument with a long history, it has over time spread to other countries such as Japan, where other techniques and rhythms were created through its development there, according to Wan. He noted in particular that, compared to how it is traditionally played in West Africa, where rhythm is relatively stable and simple while incorporating some singing, in Japan it integrates many elements of modern music and even some juggling.
Materials such as plastic, bamboo, wood and metal have also been used since its spread to other places, such as having players in Japan where asalato communities have mainly formed, apart from the mainland, China’s Taiwan region, Hong Kong, and Macau, though the latter does not have as many in comparison, Wan said.
Hác-Sálato: ‘the sound of Macau’
By around 2021, Wan wanted to create a version of the asalato rooted in Macau, with his team doing research and finding good quality materials and the right sound. This led to the creation of the “Hác-Sálato”.
Special considerations had to be made as Macau’s weather is different to West Africa’s, being more humid. In this context, traditional materials, which can also be expensive to import and not easy to obtain, may not be as sturdy or produce the best sound. The Hác-Sálato was created using a coated natural gourd, which is durable and creates a unique acoustic effect. And for its distinct sound, sand from Macau’s Hac Sa beach is also used inside each ball. That’s where its local name comes from.
Wan said its creation does not serve as a replacement for the original instrument, but instead creates more options. “I have more options for people to hear different sounds, especially from Macau. This has the Macau element inside of it, so when I play it, that means you will hear the sound of Macau”, Wan said.
Happiness, coordination and focus
Wan also spoke about how the asalato has become more than just an instrument for him, but a part of his life, playing it every chance he gets daily and taking it everywhere via a carabiner on his belt, preferring it to his smartphone.
The 49-year-old said that it allows him to enter a state of meditation while also creating movement due to the constant shaking while playing, being just some of the benefits that one might experience when picking up the instrument.
However, it may not be easy to learn how to play it right away due to the movements required, said Wan, noting: “Not many people usually shake or vibrate their bodies” or are very active. But this is where another benefit comes in, noting that it’s good for one’s body, dexterity and hand-eye coordination, Wan said, adding that when you get it right, it will help you feel relaxed and happy, allowing yourself not only to move, but maybe even find that meditative state. To further explore benefits, Wan also tries to create more playing styles, like the incorporation of Tai Chi movements hoping to garner interest by all ages.
Moreover, Wan noted, helping improve focus, which is required when playing it, is also a benefit, allowing the mind to be in one place, while coordination and balance can also be improved. “That’s why we have our slogan, ‘Shake in Balance’”.
Looking ahead
Wan continues to focus on promoting the asalato in Macau. However, promoting it as simply an instrument to learn or offering a path to become a musician is not the best way to go about it, he said, adding: “It’s a tool for practising your mind and your body, it relaxes you and maybe [allows] a bit of meditation”.
He added that many people are taking in a lot of information, especially through their phones, leading to a cluttered mind. “This tool helps you calm down a little bit and focus on what you are doing right here, right now”.
More information, including on workshops to create one’s asalato, can be found on https://www.zawood.com/
Photos taken during a recent interview with Dave Wan (尹均球) at Zawood by Rui Pastorin.
