talking drums
West African communicators
Talking drums are West African drums whose pitch can be manipulated to mimic the tones and rhythms of spoken language, allowing drummers to send messages across distances.
The hourglass-shaped drum is held under the arm, and squeezing the strings connecting its two heads changes the tension and pitch.
Skilled players can reproduce speech patterns closely enough to be understood by listeners who know the language: The talking drums announced the chief's arrival.
Quality of sound
- pitchFrequency of sound
- speechOral communication ability
- messageTransmitted communication
- languageSystem of symbolic communication
transmit · convey · mimic · syllable · inflection · tonal · proverb · announcement
Combat engagement area
- warningAlert about danger
- summonCall to appear
- announceState something officially
- villageSmall rural community
distance · relay · alert · call · gather · proclaim · messenger · dispatch
Nigerian people and language
- IgboNigerian people and language
- griotAfrican oral tradition keeper
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
festival · royalty · chief · court · sacred · lineage · ancestry · heritage
Rhythmic pulse or strike
- tempoRate of musical performance
- polyrhythmOverlapping musical beat patterns
- pulseArterial blood throb
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
syncopation · groove · cadence · meter · ensemble · accompaniment · dance · improvisation
tone
Quality of sound
language · transmit · convey · mimic · syllable · inflection · tonal · proverb · announcement · summon
battlefield
Combat engagement area
village · distance · relay · alert · call · gather · proclaim · messenger · dispatch · broadcast
Yoruba
Nigerian people and language
- IgboNigerian people and language
- griotAfrican oral tradition keeper
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
ritual · festival · royalty · chief · court · sacred · lineage · ancestry · heritage · Nigerian
beat
Rhythmic pulse or strike
- tempoRate of musical performance
- polyrhythmOverlapping musical beat patterns
- pulseArterial blood throb
pattern · syncopation · groove · cadence · meter · ensemble · accompaniment · dance · improvisation · interlock
hourglass
Gravity-powered sand timer
mallet · goatskin · leather · wood · carved · resonance · acoustic
- AfricaEgypt, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania
- drumsbongo, tambourine, snare, djembe, conga
- signalingsmoke signals, signal fires, signal flags, signal lamps, signal towers
- African artifactsAfrican masks, African art, tribal masks, tribal art, ritual objects
- African MusicAfrobeat, highlife, afrobeat, Afro-pop, African rhythms
- cultural communicationlanguage, speech, gestures, signs, symbols
talking drumssymphony orchestra
Large ensemble for classical music
art music · timpani · snare drum · bass drum · ambient music
talking drumsbowed strings
Instruments sounded by friction
violin · cello · wind instruments · flute · organ
talking drumswritten language
Communication through inscribed symbols
text messaging · email · silent communication · digital communication · satellite communication
talk, talking, talks, talked, talker, talkers, drum, drums, drummed