When one thinks of drums in relation to Africa you tend to think of tribal beats travelling great distances from a network of drummers that are relaying messages of urgency from one village to another. No wonder because this instrument is one of the oldest if not the oldest form of African communication. Massive drums have been used for centuries as a way to communicate over great distances. Drums that were often smaller though, had even higher demands placed upon them; such as contacting dead ancestors or supernatural spirits. Drums of this nature were called upon during specific rituals and used to communicate with spiritual entities in hopes that once summoned they would enter into the human realm, join the ceremony and provide aid in whatever form needed. Drums designated for this duty was crafted from a tree selected by a spiritual elder and then formed according to traditional design by a Kpembele member; the wood crafting experts of the Senufo tribe. The older Senufo drum on display was crafted from a native hardwood. The drum structure adorned with tribal etchings is supported by a revered male Senufo ancestor figure that serves as the base. Both sections are well carved and detailed. The figure has a staff in one hand and a nicely formed knife in the other; both objects are wooden. A head crown made of hardened raffia is adorned with cowry shells, very old strung beads, 2 discs, animal horn pieces and a goat hair tail. When an object, weather it’s a drum, mask, statue or other ritual paraphernalia is decorated with such care its true tribal value is shown. These embellishments serve traditions and also empower the object supernaturally.

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Dimensions: The entire drum is 36 1/2 inches tall. The ancestor figure stands 16 inches tall. 8 inch drum top diameter including spokes. 

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