Cote d’Ivoire
Baule

Wood, hide, beads, cowrie shells, kaolin paste, fiber rope
Early-Mid 20th century
Drum only: Height: 9 in; Diameter 6 3/4 in
Membranophone – Struck (Directly) – Single Headed

This is a mouse divination drum of the Baule people of the Cote d’Ivoire.  The Baule use a gbekre – mouse oracle or mouse box, among other methodologies. Oral traditions among the people of the Baule region, including the Yaure and Guro, who may have initiated the practice of mouse divination, indicated that a long time ago mice could speak.  As mice  commonly live in the ground in the forest surrounding the village they are in close contact with the asye usu, the forest spirits, which see and know all and which, in turn, live closely to the ancestors. Divination experts, those with specialization in spiritual matters, brought mice into the village to live in captivity. In many African societies animals are believed to have innate insight into the human experience. The Baule people believe that a mouse can be used as a messenger of God.  This is a divination drum, that may have also served as a gbekre – mouse box/container.