Conical drum; bata

Adamo bàtá, double membrane conical drum. The shell is carved from omo wood (Cordia milleni). The heads are of antelope hide. Each has two layers, lapped onto a concealed hoop. The outer layer of each head is cut away to form a ring around the inner skin. The larger head has a tuning patch of black wax at its centre. The lacing runs through eight holes in each skin, passing above and beneath the concealed hoops and linking the two heads. The lacing is of antelope hide with vestiges of hair present. The interlacing is secured and tensioned by cross lacing encircling the central section of the drum. The drum has a carrying strap of purple and white dyed fabric. This is tied to the lacing at the edge of each of the heads.The smaller head is played with a beater (M16a-1992) made from a piece of stiff antelope hide, which still has hair on one side and has been cut to a point. The larger head is struck by the player's right hand.