Overview of the Talking Drum

Overview of the Talking Drum

 I.  The Different Types and Sizes of the Talking Drum

 

II. How the Talking Drum is Used and Where they are Found

• Talking drums are found among different ethnic groups throughout Africa south of the Sahara Desert.
• They are generally used for religious and ceremonial occasions as well as entertainment.
  
• Drummers can literally talk using the ability of the drum to mimic certain tonal inflections of the spoken language.

III. Locating Nigeria and the Yoruba People

• Nigeria is located along the Ivory Coast, in the western part of the African continent.
   

  
  

The Yoruba tribe mostly spans the southwest portion of Nigeria. The Yoruba represent one of the largest ethnic groups south of the Sahara Desert.

Ife is the capital of Yorubaland and its cultural center. Over two hundred rituals involving drumming are performed yearly under the scrutiny of the Minister of Culture who serves under the King.

 

 Interesting Fact: Keep in mind that political boundaries were drawn years ago mainly by European colonialists without regard for tribal boundaries. For instance, Yorubaland extends beyond Nigeria's western border into the country of Benin (not seen on the map). The fact that tribal territories often overlap political borders adds tremendously to the problem of territorial and political disputes often erupting throughout the African continent.