La Plaine, Haiti
Haitian People

Wood, fiber, pigment, hide
ca. 1950’s CE
Length:  21 in; Diameter: 9 in

Membranophone – Struck – Directly

Haitian drums (call tanbou) are important to the preservation of the Haitian culture, and those that are barrel-shaped are recognized as the national musical instrument.  Each is hand crafted and according to tradition, baptized for use in dance, healing, and merry making.  There are several types of Haitian drums, each with an African origin and distinct family of rhythms.   They may be played using both hands or one hand and a padded stick.

Seen here is the traditional Petwo drum, named after a family of rhythms originating in Haiti’s central and southern regions (La Plaine, Port au Prince, Akayè).  This traditional Petwo drum is hand-painted with colorful geometric and striped patterns from top to bottom.  It has a goatskin head attached to a conical/goblet shaped softwood body by means of cords interlaced in tourniquet style around wooden loops at the top and anchored at the lower end of the body by means of another hoop and knotting method.  To tune the drumhead, one slides the side clasps, called ralba, up or down to loosen or tighten the drumhead.  These drums are similar to the drums found in the Congo.

References:  http://www.lameca.org/publications-numeriques/dossiers-et-articles/vodou-music-in-haiti/4-the-kongo-petwo-room/;  https://www.lakoubrooklyn.com/blog/2017/11/22/rhythms-without-end-haitian-vodou-drum-music