Cameroon
Tikar

Wood, cowrie shells, rattan, woven cones
Early-Mid 20th century
Height: 22 inches; Width: 25 inches
Membranophone – Friction

This friction drum from Cameroon has a cylindrical-shaped wooden shell.  The high relief carved janiform lizards (half body) encircle the resonator shell and are vertical with connected arms.  A membrane is stretched across the top and displays a decorative border of woven cones and cowrie shells. In the center a stick is feed through a hole and attached to a cross bar underneath the skin head. A woven straw covering serves as a foot on the bottom side of the drum, upon which the drum rests. The sound is produced by rubbing the stick with both hands, usually wet, causing the vibrations to transfer to the drum head, producing a loud hoarse sound of indefinite pitch that some say resembles a lion’s roar.