Traditional Drum

Traditional Drum

  • Medium: Wood, stretched animal skin, plant fibers
  • Dimensions: Variable, handcrafted
  • Origin: West Africa (likely Togo, Benin, or Ghana).
  • Age: Estimated 40 to 60 years, based on the wear of the wood and skin.

 

This drum embodies the vibratory force connecting the body to the sacred. Crafted by hand with natural materials – wood, animal skin, and plant fibers – it reflects ancestral knowledge passed down through generations. Both an instrument of sound and a spiritual object, it serves as a tool for communication and trance, carrying memory, rhythm, and collective energy.

Cultural value:

The drum is more than a musical instrument: it is a medium of communication, used to send messages, accompany ceremonies, and mark transitions in life (births, initiations, funerals).

Spiritual value:

In African traditions, the drum is regarded as the voice of the ancestors. Its vibrations allow entry into trance, invoke protective spirits, and sustain harmony between the visible and invisible worlds.