Drum

African ceremonial drum, 1896 (c). Taken from the Sacrifice Palace of King Prempeh at Kumasi during the 3rd Ashanti War (1895-1896). A talking drum, played by hand. Worn around neck during processions or important ceremonies. Found all over Ghana, not exclusive to the Ashanti region. Roughly spherical shell with hollow top, formed from stretched leather shell over wickerwork frame; head made from leather stretched over shell, with edge wrapped around 14 wooden pegs and secured to them with a plaited wickerwork collar; round each of the pegs is a leather thong which pass underneath the shell and maintain tension by attachments to a brass ring underneath.