These evocative, onomatopoeic variants, or talking drums, are generic names for a family of West African drums, particularly in the Yoruba culture of Nigeria, Guinea, talking drums that mimic human speech, rope-tuned and cylindrical membranophones with a rawhide skin at both ends, and played with a stick. The skin is most commonly cow or goat, and Depending on the region, the drum is hit might be a plain straight stick, one curved with a flat head, as with a tama, or a straight stick with a cylindrical head attached at right angles.
Dundun drums differ from the djembe, which is goblet-shaped.
Dundun might cover one of three sizes. The dundunba (also spelled dununba) is the largest dunun and has the lowest pitch. Typical size is 60–70 cm in length and 40–50 cm in diameter.
"Ba" means "big" in the Malinké language, so "dundunba" literally means "big dunun"
The sangban is of medium size, with higher pitch than the dundunba a typical size is 50–60 cm in length and 30–40 cm in diameter
The kenkeni is the smallest dunun and has the highest pitch. Typical size is 45–50 cm in length and 25–35 cm in diameter.
Bamboo dundun set
Traditionally, the drum is played horizontally (placed on a stand or worn with a shoulder strap). For a right-handed player, the right hand plays the skin and the left hand optionally plays a bell that may be mounted on top of the drum or held in the left hand. The latter style is popular in Mali and originally from the Khassonké people
On these videos the three sizes are demonstrated, first together, then by three separate players.
Here, from Chango drum classes, are some demonstrations of particular rhythms as seen from the point of view of a player.
Another lesson from the very enthusiastic Djembe Guru channel showing us a dundun pattern for Yankadi playing all three drums at once.
Here also is an interesting video about the psychology of talking drums:
Next, the Yoruba talking drum ensemble showing increasingly complex and mesmeric rhythms:
And even more fun and energy from Aloyinlapa group:
And finally, extending the experience a whole group of new dundun players also creating an accompanying dance led by Yansané Kouyaté:
So then, any more songs and instruments featuring the dundun and its associates? Feel free to suggest examples from any genre, or even in film, art, or other contexts in comments below.
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