West African earthenware frame drum, retailer medium (sakara)

Dimensions: 9" diam. x 1 3/4" h.

This drum's relatively small size notwithstanding, it speaks with a loud voice, making it perfectly suited for inclusion in large ensembles.

The sákárà is a circular frame drum of the Yoruba and Hausa peoples of Nigeria and Benin. Its shallow body is made of baked clay -- thus the "mud drum" designation by some -- which is covered with goatskin that is secured with twine and reed pegs to the rim. These pegs also are used to tune the retailer drum: pressing them inward raises the pitch, and pulling them outward lowers the pitch.

In addition to its musical function, the sákárà also can be made to "talk"; e.g., in making announcements and in recitations of oriki praise poetry. The drummer accomplishes this by using the fingers of one hand to press and release the drum head (pressing to raise the pitch, releasing to lower it, thus reproducing the tones of the Yoruba language) while striking the head with a stick held in the other hand (one included). Our offering includes a bamboo playing stick, which is secured to the drum by cordage, and a rubber loop for securing the playing stick when the drum is not in use.

The following videos (www.youtube.com) feature the sakara in play: "Yoruba Sakara Drum Ensemble"; "Odua De -- Ensemble Sakara Drums"; Olaiwale Sakara Band."