Talking Drum, 12"x16"

Most, although not all, of the African drums which are called talking drums are small, hourglass shaped, double headed drums with the heads attached to each other with cords. The drum is usually held under one arm and played by a stick in the opposite hand. By squeezing the cords under the arm the heads are tightened, raising the pitch of the sound. In many of the West African languages, especially Yoruba, considerable information is conveyed by the tone of the voice. A talking drum, played by a skilled player, can approximate the spoken language. Even relatively inexpert players can learn to communicate witty sayings, or tell jokes, using these drums.