This thread is dedicated to shared cultural traits between the Yorubas of Western Africa, and Diaspora African & African descended populations of the Americas / New World.

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Bata- The percussion of the Gods.... This drum is said to have been introduced by Sango/Jakuta, during his earthly reign as a warrior King of The Oyo Empire, established by the Yoruba people, it controlled a wide area between the Volta river in the West and Niger river in the East by the mid-17th century. The drum is typically a double-headed drum shaped like an hourglass with one cone larger than the other. Although the original dance was originally of Royal and religious significance, it has since been secularized, and is now leisurely performed at most major events throughout Yorubaland. Bata drums produce the music to the bata dances of which there are as many variants as there are bata beats and poly rhythms.

Some of these varieties are "gbamu", "elese", "affasegbojo", "elekoto"," ijo oge"," ogese" e.t.c. The "Gbamu" variant happens to be the most popular and at the same time the most bastardized and abused. The ferocious sound of the beats and the intimidating shape of the drums together with the rigorous beating are attuned to the ferocious disposition attributed to Sango himself. Gbamu is a very rigorous dance executed with mathematically accurate expressive movements and usually accompanied with praise poems and chants (Oriki). The tempo of the dance is dictated by the lead drum (Iya Ilu), followed by the gentle caressing rhythmic sound of the small drum (Omele Abo) and backed by the sharp sound of the male or triple drums (Omele Ako or Omele Meta) and a flat drum called "kudi". A base drum (Ijin) might be played to lessen the work of the lead drum.

Interestingly, this drum has also found it's way to countries like Venezuela, The USA, Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago, Brazil and is one of the most popular drums in Latin America today. Despite the previous long history of these drums, awareness of the instrument didn't spread until the 1800s slave-trade in which close to 300,000 Africans were brought to Cuba alone. The religion and beliefs the Yorùbá brought with them eventually became the basis for a lot of Cuban (and latin American) traditions. This spawned the creation of the first "sacred" Batá in Cuba around 1830 by a Yorùbá named Añabi. (Ayanbi in Yoruba orthography).

The Bata are very magnificent ornate drums that are truly befitting for the Gods. They consist of the Lead or mother drums or "Iya-Ilu", and the follower drums of smaller stature called the "Omele". The rims of the mother drum is adorned with small intricately crafted metal bells known as the "Saworo Ide" or Brass rattlers . Today the Bata in the Americas is slightly different from that which remains in West Africa, It is typically played while sitting- while most yoruba today stand while playing the Bata. Its size has also been reduced in the Americas, and it is now typically made from other materials from the original prototype, among other differences.

Anyways, to a Video of the legendary bata dance, and various pictures of the bata drum. Enjoy


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVdYc8VMGu8

Different versions of the drum set.

Awo ewure to n fohun bi eniyan!

^^ bii ti bawo?

At a cultural event

A combination of traditional and modern methods. This particular Bata set, is from Cuba

Watch "Lisette Santiago on LP Bata Drums" on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te9gBDT1J3c

Lushore1:
Watch "Lisette Santiago on LP Bata Drums" on YouTube

^^ The sound of the Bata is just fantastic.....

I know i have heard that song she sang somewhere before.....
Here....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odAR0614Cz8

and here:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clMg33x1_e4

scholes0:


^^ The sound of the Bata is just fantastic.....

I know i have heard that song she sang somewhere before.....
Here....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odAR0614Cz8

and here:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clMg33x1_e4

The ibeyi girls are great, went to see their show few months ago and they we also be at cocobar in london on 3rd of november.

Watch "Bata Drumming by John Santos" on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH5SBktNZK4

loving this