The Talking Drums of Yoruba Land

Matt Black

Music in Africa

• Sing for me!• Meant to send spirit on journey, from earthly

presence to spiritual• Used in divination, to get Diviners into trance

for spirit Possession

Drummers

• Taught from an early age• If show potential, or born

into family of drummers• Babalawos are not

Drummers• Only Men• Take apprenticeship, until

proficient, then become masters themselves

The Bata Drum

• On the Bata drum, one head is larger than the other.

• On the Dundun drum, both heads are equal sizes.

The Dundun Drum

Talking Drums

• The heads of the drum are made from the skin of some animal, often a goat.

• There are strings lining the drum from top to bottom, connecting the heads.

• The drums are played by squeezing the middle strings underneath the player’s arm, which causes the drum head to tighten.

• They then strike the drum, with a curved piece of wood.

z=A*Jn(wr/c)sin(w*t)sin(n*Θ)t=time, w=constant parameter, A= parameter,

and r=radius of drum c=√(T/P) where T= tension, p=density/area

• As we see from the drum equation, the tension, denoted as T, affects the displacement, and therefore the sound of the drum. The tightening changes the tension on the head of the drum, therefore changing the sound that we hear.

• The Yoruba people have been able to influence the tension and other factors such that the sound we hear resembles the Yoruba spoken language.

“Talking” Drums

• The drummers are able to communicate verses from their religious scripture to the listeners.

• Certain passages are “spoken” by the drums, and understood by the listeners.

• However, the drummers can only “speak” the passages that are understood; they cannot make up their own sentences, or the understanding may be lost.

• Traditionally, when the drummers perform for a ceremony, they play in the call-and-response style.

• Typically five drummers in African performances.

• One drummer starts off with a passage, and the other drummers answer with another passage, and the two go back and forth.

• This passage exchange is what is meant by a “conversation” of drums.

Music Produced

• Rarely written down• Though difficult, actually can be broken down

by western standards• 4/4 or 6/8 time signature• http://www.free-scores.

com/boutique/boutique-uk-frame-eur.php?clef=80766

Dancing• Symbolic • Jumping represents leaving earth

for heavens• Spirit Possession; dance around,

until spirit of divinity or ancestor takes ahold, then body goes into convulsions as it is possessed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCv03EolhMQ&feature=related

Cuban History• Slaves imported from West

Africa bought in Yoruba culture, Cuban religion is today known as Santeria

• Due to slavery and anti-African Spanish, difficult to practice religion

• Began to hide religious objects against proselytizing masters and society

• Different approach to music than Africans

Types of Drums (Cuba)

• Bata drums of different material

• 3 Players instead of 5, 6/8 time signature

• Religious: Identical to Nigerian, people who play them, consecration

• Social: Metal straps, non-consecrated

Thank You, Have a Nice Summer!!!