Nigeria
Yoruba

Wood, hide
19th Century
Height: 11.5 inches
Membranophone – Struck (Directly) – Single Headed

This is a 19th century ‘ipese‘ drum that was used for the Yoruba ‘Ifa” festivals.  “During the Yoruba Ifa festival, only the ipese drum ensemble was appropriate to use.  Ipese or Ipesi is also used at the burial of an Ifa priest.  The main purpose of using the ipese is to give the last respect to the departed soul and at the same time to draw a line between the living and the dead.  Only the initiate can beat the ipese and the meaning of what the ipese is saying can only be understood by the initiates.” [Excerpts from: Azeez Akinwumi Sesan – Gender Dialectics of Yoruba Drum Poetry]

The Ifa divination is associated with the Yoruba people of Nigeria.  [Divination is a process used to seek and obtain information in terms of guidance from a higher being.  This information helps an individual or community seeking guidance from their gods.  The process of divination varies among different cultures.]  Thus, it is a complex system that involves communication that might include the use of diviners or messengers communicating to the supreme being.  These diviners use various appealing tools including drums, divination trays, etc., to help in their communication. 

Today, many Yoruba are now Christians or Muslims, but aspects of their traditional religion still survives.