Southwestern Nigeria
Yoruba

Oma wood, goat/antelope skin, cloth fiber, metal
Mid-Late 20th Century
Length: 29 in x top diameter: 12 in x bottom diameter: 7 in
Membranophone – Struck (Directly) – Double-headed

Yoruba Batá is an ancient drumming, dancing, and masquerade tradition of Nigeria.  This is a ‘batá’ drum of the Yoruba.  It is a hyperbola-shaped Yoruba ritual drum carved from Oma wood and headed with goat/antelope skin.  It has leather straps (Indian tabla-style) tuning with a fabric shoulder strap.   The batá is made for spiritual context but is suitable for a full range of musical styles.  It is played sitting down with the drum placed horizontally on the knees or hung with a strap over the shoulders or around the neck.  This allows the drummer to play with both hands.  The batá drummer uses his right hand to create tones on the larger drum head, while their left hand strikes the smaller head with a strap. Batá and dundun drums “talk” by mimicking the tones of the Yoruba language.

Culturally, batá drummers are born into their family tradition.  They  prepare and assemble their own drums from organic materials and only boys are encouraged and taught how to play batá drums.  The batá drum has different parts which include; “Igi Ilu”(wooden frame work), leather, “Egi ilu”(thick for support), “Osan”(wire work).  This Yoruba batá was gifted from the Yoruba people to Ginger Baker, an English drummer from the band ‘Cream & Blind Faith’,  on his visit to Nigeria with his first wife Elizabeth.