Cote d’Ivoire
Baule (Akan)

Wood, hide
Early 20th Century
Height: 17 in; Head diameter: 9 in; Total diameter: 12.5 in
Membranophone – Struck (Directly) – Single Headed

This wooden goblet-shaped drum comes from the Baule people of  the Ivory Coast.  There are five mask faces carved in high relief around the outside of the body of the drum, which lends this drum to possibly be a ‘talking drum’  called atungblan (also called klin kpli ‘sacred talking drum’ by the Kôdêh people).  The atungblan are played in pairs, like the atumpan of the Akan people of Ghana and the atukpani of the Ewe of Ghana. These drums carry great prestige, they are used by the chief’s master-drummer to call to the ancestors by means of rhythmic formulate, to ask them to protect the community. The atungblan are also used to summon people to meetings and at public appearances of the chief, where they are used to drum proverbs.  
The drum head is attached with five hooked wooden pegs that stick into the drum and a thick ring of wrapped leather to which the skin head and leather loops are attached. Just under the pegs the body of the drum protrudes slightly, separating the head and the decorative masks. Each mask has carved features including eyes, textured hair, wide nose, and mouth, and are carved from the same piece of wood as the body rather than being added on later.