The friction drum is known in Malta as ir-rabbaba or iż-żafżafa. This instrument, which is still in use today over Carnival, is made out of a container (tin, pottery or wood), animal skin and a long Arundo donax reed (qasba) which is attached to the skin. This instrument carries fertility associations and was previously mostly reserved for Carnival festivities.

Wieħed mill-istrumenti tradizzjonali tal-Maltin huwa magħruf bħala r-rabbaba jew iż-żafżafa. L-istrument huwa magħmul minn reċipjent li jista' jkun xi qasrija tal-fuħħar, jew xi landa taż-żebgħa, ġilda ta' annimal u qasba. Id-daqqaq jogħrok il-qasba b'idejh imxarrba jew b'xi sponza. Illum ir-rabbaba għadha tindaqq fil-karnival ma' strumenti oħra bħall-organett, il-kitarra, il-kastanjoli u t-tnabar.

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