percussion instrument

The Americas

Western Africans reconstructed their native drums in the New World, preponderantly as ritual instruments. Small sets of two or, more often, three drums of graded sizes form an integral part of African American rituals and, in the Caribbean, also of Vodou dances. Only the skins of sacrificial animals may be used for membranes among Afro-Bahians in Brazil, who baptize their new drums, preferably with “holy” water obtained from a Roman Catholic church. Drums in Haiti are sacred objects and may even represent the deity itself; as such they receive libations. One type of bongo drum—there exist at least four of these—has been adopted by Western rhythm bands, as has the conga.