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A classic two-skin drum with an hour-glass shape, also known as a "talking drum". It is very common amongst the Dogon and Bambara populations of Mali and the Yoruba in Nigeria. Two skin membranes, stretched by cord braces that run in parallel along the body of the drum are placed symmetrically on a single block of wood, cut into an hour-glass shape. Holding the drum under the armpit and exercising pressure of the braces varies the tension and therefore the intonation of the skins beaten with the special curved stick; in this way a modulated effect is obtained, on various pitches and tonalities, hence the name "talking drum". It could, at least according to tradition, simulate the tonal and rhythmic effects of spoken discourse, to the extent of being comprehensible to those who know the language of the ethnic group the player belongs to. It may seem incredible but the brief beats, at times sharp, at times syncopated like exclamations, succeed in imitating some of the characteristic components of certain African dialects and languages. One of the most extraordinary drums of this type was the well known DUNDUN of the Yoruba, used both for religious and lay purposes, but always to talk.
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