Ghana, West Africa
Ashanti-Akan

Weathered wood, hide, fiber rope
Mid 20th Century
Height: 32 inches and 27 inches, Diameter 17 inches each
Membranophone – Struck (Directly) – Single Headed

The Ashanti “talking” drums, called Atumpan come in pairs – one drum with a high tone and the other with a low tone. These two spherical peg-drums, native to the Volta and Western regions of Ghana, are played to mimic the highs and lows of the local Twi language, which is an African tonal language. They are played with bent sticks as shown here.  According to Joseph Hanson Kwabena Nketia, emeritus professor of music at the University of Ghana (1963), there are three fundamental modes of drumming among the Ashanti:   Signal mode; Speech mode; and Dance mode.