ABSTRACT
The author pointed to the relationship between the hierarchical structure of Akan chieftaincy and the ownership of drums as indexes of power. Similar to ivory trumpets, drum language operates in a sophisticated system of surrogate speech whereby spoken language is replicated on a variety of drums. This chapter discusses the widespread use of sound-producing and musical instruments for surrogate speech performances that include short repeated signals and imitations of spoken language. Unlike animal horns or ivory trumpets with natural bore, the technique of drum-making in Africa is much more complex than we could possibly imagine. From the wooden shell to the leather membrane, the Akan drum is made up of several materials, and even by today’s standards it requires extraordinary skill for drum carvers to create a single drum.
