Back to Gallery

Drum - Double Head

Dagomba Lunga

Ghana (Northern Region)
Dagomba

Wood, Animal Hide/Leather
ca. Mid-20th century

Length: 18 inches; Diameter: 7 7/8 inches
Membranophone - Struck - Directly - Double-headed / Hourglass

This Dagomba People doubled-headed hourglass shaped tension drum comes from northern Ghana. It is carved from the Shea Butter tree. By squeezing the tension leather ropes (under the arm), while striking the drumhead with a bent/crooked stick/mallet, the player can change the tension and thus the pitch of the drum. The drum then becomes a way of communicating Dagbani, the spoken language of the Dagomba people.

 

Owner:
Catalog#: AF-MBST-64-84