Tongue drums (also slit or log drums) are considered percussion instruments. Enclosed on all sides, the resonating chamber is made of wood or bamboo. Slits are cut on the resonator's surface to form two or more tongues. Because the tongues have varying lengths, they produce different tones when struck by a mallet. As one of the oldest instruments, the tongue drum has long been a part of South American, Asian and African cultures.
Aztec Teponaztli
Carved from the hollowed trunk of a hardwood tree, the teponaztli has an extended "H"-shaped cut on the top of its resonator box. This configuration creates dual tongues or vibrating keys with different pitches. The drum's bottom often has a rectangular gap that boosts the volume, reports the University of Michigan. Because the teponaztli carries spiritual meaning for the Mexican communities, many of these drums display engraved lotus designs and other symbols or are crafted into alligator shapes.
The sky god, Tezcatlipoca, and the wind god, Quetzalcoatl, endowed the people with the gift of music, according to Aztec mythology. Teponaztli, the drum, was viewed by the Aztecs as an exiled spiritual entity on Earth, and therefore the instrument was carried into combat by Zapotec fighters.
Kagul of the Philippines
A slit drum used by the Maguindanaon people, the foot-long kagul is made from old, dried bamboo and has one jagged side, reports the Center for the Kulintang. Grounding the drum with one foot, a drummer scrapes the rough edge with his right hand while he pounds the smooth edge with a betay (beater) in his left hand. In addition, the kagul can be set on a stand and played with two beaters. Although the kagul is used for entertainment, its primary purpose is not only to keep a farmer alert while guarding rice paddies, but also to frighten birds from feasting on crops.
Igbo Ekwe
Introduced by the Igbo people of Nigeria, this slit drum is made from a hollowed-out tree trunk. Rectangle-shaped cavities at both ends of the drum are linked by a horizontal slit. The ekwe's size is contingent on the role that the instrument plays in the community's activities and rituals, as put forth by the Umunna Cultural Association of Indianapolis. In early times, Igbo chiefs would use the ekwe to convey messages; for example, a summons to the village to attend a meeting. A large ekwe (Ikoro) was sounded during emergencies such as a pending war, a major crime or the death of an important person.
Tags: edge with, made from, slit drum