Description:
The talking drum is found in Senegal, Ghana, Benin, Western Mali and Nigeria. In Senegal the talking drum is called "Tama" and in Nigeria the talking drum is called "Dun Dun". Traditionally the talking drum was used to communicate in between different villages a sort of "percussive Morse code" this Morse code if you will is based upon the pitch of the regional languages where spoken. The talking drum is found through out West Africa Senegal, Ghana, Guinea and Western Mali. The rhythm patterns are accented by the rapid roles and quick reflexes of the hand holding the stick.
Use of the talking drum in popular musics:
Today the drum is used in traditional-performances to contemporary
music. In Senegal the tama (talking drum) is also heard present in the popular Mbalax genre. In Nigeria the acclaimed accordion player often used
the dun-dun in accompaniment with the accordion and other western
instruments. The dun-dun (talking drum) is also found in Fuji music.
Anatomy of the Talking Drum:
In each varying sizes of the drum the drum is tuned to the tonal qualities of the languages of people who play the talking-drum. The body of the talking drum is usually hand carved from a small to medium diameter log. Animal Hide usually goat skin would be stretched over the two sides. The hide's are stretched with (in the case of my specimen) orange died hide. The two different pitches on each side of the drum are produced by the desired tension of the chords. Each of the individual chords are tied together with a chord wrapped around each chords. The playing stick is carved out of wood from a small branch.