- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- War drum, cut from tree trunk, with bands of hide covered with bead work round half the circumference at the top, and below these a deep fringe of black and white goat's hair and small plain drum stick attached [.1]. Goat skin mat for drum to stand on [1898.14.1 .2] and cover for upper membrane of coloured spirally made basket-work [1898.14.1 .3].
- Geographical reference
- Cultural groups
- Ganda
- Date / Period
- Date made: Before 1898
- Date collected
- By 1898
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 29/04/1898
- Materials and processes
- Material Wood Plant, Material Antelope Hide Skin Animal, Material Bead, Material Animal Rawhide Skin, Material Pigment, Material Goat Hair Animal, Process Carved, Process Hollowed, Process Twisted, Process Tie Resist Dyed, Process Beadwork, Process Basketry
- Dimensions
- Diameter: max 457 mm head, Height 521 mm, Diameter: max 216 mm base
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 1898.14.1.1
- Research and responses
This object was examined by Peter Cooke during a research visit in April 2012. He made the following comments: This is a typical 'Uganda drum', well built, but made special by the added apron with the two rows of beadwork and goat hair which suggests it was indeed a 'royal' drum - quite probably from the palace of Kabaka Mwanga who, after rebelling against British and missionary influence in 1888 but returning to power in 1889, fled from his palace and was finally deposed and exiled by the British in 1897. Compare this with the illustration in Speke's 'Journal of the Discovery of the Source of the Nile' (1864) p. 421 where Zwecker's drawing based on a sketch by Speke's companion Grant (made during a 'levee' hosted by Mwanga's father Muteesa I) shows two drums which are very similar except for showing no goat hair. This item may well have been booty. Beads were extensively used for decoration of royal instruments and regalia items in Bunyoro and were known to a lesser extent at the Ganda court for some instruments and for items of regalia. A harp beautifully decorated with red, white and blue beads in zig-zag design over the whole of the back of the resonator, bears an old label "from the home of Mwanga" [i.e. King Mwanga] can be seen at the British Museum. Other items of regalia at the tombs of the Baganda kings in Kasubi, Kampala.
A copy of the report sent by Peter Cooke after his research visit has been placed in the Researcher's file. [El.B 09/05/2012]
Search terms: Music, Status, Basketry, Musical Instrument, Status Object, Lid, Mat, Kettle Drum