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This article is in three parts. The first part will give a general and historical background of the talking drum. The second part will give an overview of some of the different kinds of talking drums in the ensemble of a typical talking drum family and the third part of the article will focus on the actual ‘speaking of the drum’.
Background Of The Talking Drum: About the Drum
The talking drum is an interesting piece of musical instrument. Its exceptional nature and uniqueness in sound and production which connotes so much to those that deeply understand the Yoruba language and cultural heritage make it a timeless instrument of African descent. It is a truly African traditional drum that is known all over the world. So special and unique is this instrument that, foreigners have travelled to south-west Nigeria to learn the art of the talking drum. The talking drum is an hourglass-shaped drum with two drumheads (one on either end), connected by leather tension cords. The drumheads are made from hiding, fish skin or other membranes which are wrapped around a wooden hoop. The drum is usually beaten with a bent or a curved stick. Leather cords or thongs run the length of the drum’s body and are wrapped around the hoops. Its hourglass shape makes it possible for it to be held under the arms. The cords are also adjustable and therefore, play a great part in determining the pitch of the drum. If the cords and strings are pulled hard, the sound or tone from the drum would increase and if the chords are softly squeezed, the sound will be low. This manipulation can only be perfectly implemented by an experienced drummer. This feature makes this drum different from other traditional drums.Sign up to the Connect Nigeria daily newsletter
Background Of The Talking Drum: Historical
Many regions of West Africa have strong drumming traditions including Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, and Nigeria. The Talking Drum is however most prominent among the Yorùbá ethnic group, principally in Nigeria but also found in neighbouring countries like Togo and Benin Republic, as well as among other ethnic groups such as the Hausa. Being a core part of the Yoruba tradition, The Talking Drum is also arguably one of the oldest traditional instruments in Africa. Its origin can be traced to the Old Oyo Empire in South-West, Nigeria and it is believed to have been introduced as a means of communication during the inauguration of the Alaafin of Oyo and developed throughout the period of the Oyo Empire, established in the twelfth century in South-West, Nigeria. This makes the talking drum both ancient and contemporaneous to modern-day instruments.A Bit Of The Talking
The talking drum talks differently depending on the occasion or ceremony. The beats differ from ceremonies ranging from funerals to christenings and inaugurations amongst others. It is also used during festivals and served as a signal to herald the arrival of an important personality. The drummers are well trained and have the knowledge and understanding of Yoruba culture and traditions. An unskilled person can’t beat the talking drum except they undergo intense training. The drum is tagged the talking drum because it can “imitate the lines, speech or words of a spoken language, especially Yoruba. In other words, its pitch can be regulated to mimic the tone and prosody of human speech thus, it ‘speaks’ in its own special way through rhythm. This rhythm is interpreted usually by people who have a vast and grounded knowledge of Yoruba folklore. Sources: Iheanyiigboko.wordpress Refined NG Iiste Featured Image Source: WikipediaGot a suggestion? Contact us: editor@connectnigeria.com