Talking drum

This type of drum is usually known as a "talking drum" because it is used to imitate African languages, often tonal, where words have different meanings depending on the pitches at which they are spoken. The drum is held under the arm of the player, which presses the lacing while playing with a curved beater on one head, thus varying the tension of the heads and creating different pitches. Technically, it is an hourglass-shaped, double-headed wooden drum with skin membranes attached onto the body with twisted leather lacing and sewn to rings. There is a wide carrying strap made of plush fabric and the beater is made of wood.