Australia
Aboriginal

Wood, hide, metal tacks
Mid-Late 20th century
Height: 20 in; Diameter 9.5 in
Membranophone – Struck Directly

A contemporary Australian aboriginal pedestal drum with four feet. This drum shows heavy carving with geometric designs and a crocodile. Traditional instruments include the didgeridoo, clapsticks, gum leaf, bullroarer, and rasp.  Hundreds of distinct clans of the region of the Australian aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands do not share their customs, arts, and musical practices with the Western society as a way to assert autonomy and cultural definition.

These aboriginal Australians connect with their ancestors through music and song, known as “Dreaming.”  This concept encompasses creation myths, religion, pre-life/life/death, historical events, connection to ancestors and deity, and other important life events. To access this information or receive spiritual revelation, Aboriginals engage in ‘songlines,’ or song cycles of specific songs sung by travelers in order, to help them travel long distances across Australia by using markers in the songs as musical maps.

Reference: Aboriginal Music — Kaitlin Bove Music