Nigeria/Benin
Yoruba

Wood, leather, metal, cowrie shells, cloth fibers
ca. Mid 20th century
Length: 18.5 inches; diameter: 8.5 inches
Membranophone – Struck (Directly) – Two-sided

This is a  Yoruba dundun ‘iya’lu’ (iya ilu) from Nigeria.  It is a type of talking drum decorated with brass jingles called saworo.  Such jingles/bells are attached to leather straps for support.  It is the most characteristic type of Yoruba traditional drums and the iya ilu, or mother drum, is considered the lead instrument in the ensemble.   The spread of the dundun over Yorubaland was coincident with the rise of the Oyo Empire.  When played it mimics the tonal language of the Yoruba. Varying sounds are produced by holding this hourglass-shaped, double-headed drum tightly under the arm and squeezing the tension cords/strings called osan, while striking one of the membranes (awo oju ilu) with a curved stick. The stones inside the drum and jingles attached to the drum head loops (egi), add to the sound.   This dundun iya’lu’ came from the personal collection of Alan Suits of Coyote’s Paw.