The Talking Drum

Talking Drums can also be known as: Gangan, Dundun, Atumpan, Donno, Kalungu, Doodo, Tama, Tamma, Dondo, Odondo, Lunna, and Lunar.
The nickname given to this drum is 'Waited Drum' as the talking drum is shaped like an hourglass.

Why is it called 'The Talking Drum'?

The drum got it's name from it being able to change pitch by squeezing it. The harder you squeeze it the higher the pitch of the drum, where as, if you don't squeeze it much it sounds a lot lower. This gives the drum a type of language that can be used to send various messages and meanings to other villages. Certain drum patterns are linked to spiritual beings that tribes use, the drum sounds are prayers and blessings to the tribes. These are all used over West African villages. The drums are also used for greetings, messages and wishes, they are also one of the oldest drums still used in Africa today. It's played with the bent stick shown in the picture above and held underneath the arm so it it easy squeezable. The size of drums varies from the smallest called a "gan gan" to the largest drum called a "dun dun".