Nigeria ✓ Verified craft Hourglass tension drum
Dùndún drum
local name: Talking drum
Hourglass skin drum used as a language, in rituals and celebrations.
Animal skinWoodLeather CarvingSkin stretchingTensioning
The dùndún, the Yoruba talking drum, is an hourglass-shaped drum whose pitch changes when the player squeezes the leather cords along its body. It reproduces the tones of the Yoruba language and is used to send messages, praise, tell stories and accompany ceremonies. Makers carve the body from a single piece of wood and stretch animal skin (antelope or goat) on both ends.
Connections to other crafts
2 parallels · written by the consortium Dùndún drum Ngoma drum
Strong parallel · share: Carved wooden body with an animal skin head
Both have a wooden body carved by hand and covered with animal skin; the dùndún's cords change its pitch while playing, while the ngoma's skin is pegged onto the body.
Dùndún drum Bendir
Strong parallel · share: Shared technique: animal skin stretched and tensioned on a wooden body
Both are skin drums whose sound depends on the tension of the skin; both accompany ceremonies.
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