Dùndún drum

Hourglass skin drum used as a language, in rituals and celebrations.

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.