Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Drum Making Basongiye Merriam PDF
Drum Making Basongiye Merriam PDF
Drum Making Basongiye Merriam PDF
JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide
range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and
facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.
Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at
http://about.jstor.org/terms
University of Illinois Press, Society for Ethnomusicology are collaborating with JSTOR
to digitize, preserve and extend access to Ethnomusicology
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
THE ETHNOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE:
Alan P. Merriam
74
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA 75
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
76 MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA
N is a young man of about eighteen years; the Bala would classify him as a
"youth." He is considered to be a fine young drummer.
8:00 a.m.: Arrive at M's house ... he shows enormous astonishment that
APM wants to come to bush with him to get log ... complains about how wet it
is ... shows discomfort at my insistence . . . finally gives in, changes
clothes. 8:10 Looks for tools, finds them in goat house. 8:15 We start, he
disappears, comes back with small bundle wrapped in blue rag which later turns
out to be the keys to his house. 8:18 We leave. 8:22 Stop to investigate tree
off path ... are looking for kichipichipi (pl. pichipichipi) tree ... this one too
big... very important that we have right kind of tree. 8:25 Leave. 8:26 Go
off path again... find tree ... M begins hacking at tree with machete ... N
says, "come here; this other tree is straighter." . . . M starts chopping on big
branch with machete at 8:30... rings branch... N begins cutting with axe
(kabengele, pl. tubengele) ... M explains he chooses this wood for two reasons:
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA 77
1) when the drum is finished one can hear the sound far away. Why? Because it
is light wood; 2) because it is easy wood to work 8:41 Axe gets stuck in
chopped cleft and takes a minute to get it out... then starts new cut to
left. 8:43 Rests 30 seconds. 8:45 Rests again . . uses axe from right shoul-
der, but has left hand above right (he is the only one who does
this). 8:48 Stop to listen to someone signaling from the village of Lumba, 15
km. away ... I can barely hear it ... they say he is calling a friend to come sing
with him 8:50 Rests. M2 wanders by and is pressed into chopping serv-
ice .. . he starts another cut with the axe on the right side. 8:53 M says he
wants to go down to check his palm wine calabash to see whether it is full ...
doesn't go. 8:55 M2 climbs to crotch of tree, chops away dead branch with
machete, and cut branch falls ... M immediately begins cutting off a 16" section
with machete . . M2 takes over with axe. 9:00 M leaves for palm
tree. 9:03 Work stops while they discuss boa constrictors. 9:06 A does
some chopping with axe... N goes off "to look for mushrooms." 9:08 M2
takes over. 9:09 A takes over. 9:10 N comes back ... no mushrooms (went
to relieve himself). 9:11 Try to break off section by lifting ... no go ... A
continues to chop. 9:12 Break off by lifting... N trims off some burned bark
with machete ... M2 and N lift section to M2's shoulder and he leaves. 9:20
We arrive back at M's. 9:22 N starts to trim burned bark with machete, log
lying on ground... M2 tells him to stand it on its end to trim... he does...
stops frequently to chat with bystanders . . keeps turning log and does not
change his position ... mostly stands and bends over to work, sometimes
squats. 9:36 M returns. 9:37 N gives M2 some pieces of bark ... he leaves
... it is medicine for stomach ache ... put in water, cook, and drink the
brew. 9:38 N finished trimming bark... bystander brings old drum and N
puts beside log ... M arrives with stool and three different tools. 9:40 M goes
to stone and sharpens adze (s. and pl. sesu). 9:41 Returns and goes into
house. 9:44 Returns with goatskin on which squats briefly ... chooses hollow
end of log and begins squaring it off with machete ... says he is going to use old
drum to measure, as a model... cuts groove around log... asks whether I am
going to let him stop at noon or make him go until finished ... uses adze to trim
off undesirable portion between groove and end of log... discusses measuring
old drum and how to put skin on with N and bystanders... N says he could
make a drum if there were no one else to do it, but not as well as M. (The
Basongye often express this kind of self-confidence, particularly musicians in
connection with making music instruments. N's statement that he could not do
so as well as M is an indication of deference and respect to an older man who is
also a political dignitary; N probably does not believe this in his heart) ... N
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
78 MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA
clearly interested and watching to learn ... discuss tools and their price i
terey ... blade falls out of adze ... shapes another wedge of wood and w
blade in by knocking back of adze head on log... discuss piece of woo
took and piece we left ... explains about it to N and N2 who has just arriv
... discuss a song type called kikadi (pl. bikadi), which they all say is
important. 10:03 Finishes squaring base ... discuss amakola (s. and pl.
other drum type in another village ... gives N2 a stick and he measures o
drum from base to top ... M measures distance on log and marks with pi
charcoal, turning log as he marks in a series
PointB GrooveD of dashes with spaces between... scrapes
log so that has clean surface on which to
Poi.tD \ mark. 10:07 Begins squaring other end of
log... tells N and N2 that after he squar
Poin.tA \this end, the bottom of drum, will take
. Poin G,,veB measure of waist (My term. Point A, Fig. 1)
GrooA and then cut from alternate sides.
Figure 1. Cross-section of cor- 10:13 Friend arrives, stops to talk for 30
pleted drum, with points and grooves
referred to in text. seconds ... cuts groove around bottom,
referred to in text.
... M uses adze to make waist, working way around drum both squaring and
roughing out the waist. 10:22 Two men arrive, M stops to talk ... C sits down
on drum. 10:23 M gets up and goes into house .. .two men leave ... M
comes back immediately with folding chair for C ... C asks what kind of tree it
is ... M tells him . . goes to house and returns with bench ... starts work again
at 10:26. Remarks that first day they sang, APM gave them 50 fr., and singers
gave him 10 fr. as owner of drums they had used... M3 arrives:
... I greet by name ... M astonished ... M3 remarks that M had better make a
good drum... M says he knows what he is doing ... L arrives:
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA 79
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
80 MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA
... all stop and discuss yesterday's bush fire ... M leaves... a woman of
Kampata started the fire ... M returns. 11:41 L begins again with chisel ... L
says "I watched my father do this; that's how I know how. When APM comes to
my place, I'll make a big one for him, and better."... child cries because ears
hurt from pounding... tell him to leave. 11:46 L works with adze
again. 11:51 APM calls halt... N takes drum and turns upside down under a
tree ... M puts tools back in goathouse.
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA 81
... says our door is finished... looks in drum ... M5 and N2 say that
to leave the hole its present width and then widen it below. 3:56 M
returns . .,. N2 says that the hole should be shaped as he suggests b
makes the sound better ... also points out that sharp outside rim ought
beveled off to prevent the drumhead from splitting and to allow the dru
play without hurting his hands (N had previously said he got blisters w
he played the drum and showed me his hands to prove it)... M mov
sun, puts drum on side, sits on goatskin and begins to take off sharp
adze ... chicken house man leaves... M sets drum on its base, turns it ar
regards it, and smooths corners more ... rolls drum on ground and reg
then smooths some more ... man #3 leaves... M sets drum upright, reg
lays it down and smooths some more ... goes back to working the insid
with chisel... man #2 leaves... M remarks that after he has finished inside
hole he will make a design on the outside ... M6 arrives:
... man #4 arrives ... M6 leaves... general discussion of interior design ...
say that if drum designed like B above, the sound will not be clear and, especial-
ly, loud, because the sound just goes straight down, but when drum is designed
like A the sound goes down and hits the bottom and comes up again ... M starts
to work the hollow as in A ... remarks this part easy because already has a hole
to work from... M6 returns. 4:15 N leaves... M remarks that one puts
drum in river so that it won't crack later ... one can also put it in a hole in the
ground and cover it with the same result... in either case, leave it for one
day . .. M5 says he could make a drum after watching M ... M5 has never seen a
drum being made; neither has A ... the mouth of the hole in the drum is called
"mouth" (s. and pl. mukanwa), and the wider part the "stomach" (efu, pl.
mafu) ... N2 leaves... man #4 leaves. 4:23 M leaves and M5 takes over ...
turns drum over to shake out chips ... M and L have scooped out chips with
hand. 4:29 N returns . .man #5 arrives... M5 says, "It's easy. I can make
one myself.".. . man #5 says, "Don't make it deeper; make the efu" ... .man
#6 arrives on bicycle. 4:32 M returns and tells M5 to judge the distance care-
fully so that he does not break through the side .,. . N2 returns ... N leaves . ..
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
82 MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA 83
children... woman gets up, takes, leaves... L2 holds drum at angle with ba
on ground ... M very aggressive today ... M says, "Don't do that; you'll make a
hole in the side.".. . L2 replies, "I know what I'm doing; this is my work. I'm
not a child." . . . continues, "After this, I'll hollow out the inside." (he d
not) .,. . boy returns with bottle of beer ... talk of L's saying he will make me
better drum... woman returns... I say I am going to make M famous and
ought to be buying me a beer... big joke. 2:43 Finishes this cut... takes
machete and begins cutting straight notch at Groove D (Fig. 1) ... M brin
saw ... L2 uses it briefly and then goes back to machete .. .purpose was t
make a straight line all the way around. . . man #4 arrives .. .man #5 a
rives .. woman leaves... men #4 and 5 leave... A and N leave to greet
stranger whose friend has just died ... L2 remarks, "Now it's beginning to loo
like a drum."... M takes saw and cuts around a bit at Groove D (Fig. 1)... L
resumes work with adze ... N leaves . .man #6 comes to return bicycle pump
to A .. .leaves.. .M5 arrives. 3:03 L2 begins to make hole for carryin
cord . . . makes 2 V-shaped notches 1" apart . . says that hardest part of the
work is the design... says will work in my
name if I like ... I decline... L2 remarks
b E
-D- D- that he c
figures) than t
Figure 2. Detail of dru
points referred to i
starts choppin
machete ... argument a
gins cutting in at E (Fig.
drum ... N returns ... M
bush, get another log,
finish tomorrow... wom
out by L2 . . . she laug
the drum they are using
it takes to make a dru
whether L2 is going t
ishes this cut... from the
bottom... is cutting hip
. . . L2 says he will ma
adze ... discuss whether b
comes up again ... I ask M
says he will have to th
hands on being bakuku (
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
84 MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA 85
says, "Come here and I'll show you how to make a drum," to N ... N says, "
I'm going to stay here with L2." 9:47 Stops hollowing and uses adze on
portion ... 2 boys leave ... man #3 arrives ... L arrives ... offers L2 a drink
palm wine because L2 is a stranger in the village . . . L2 remarks that the tre
only just big enough ... L gives various pieces of advice, mostly "gently, g
ly." ... L remarks that he could make a kifwebe (mask of a secret society of
same name) for me... has not seen mine and doesn't know I own one
arrives, says he knows kifwebe ... A says they don't have kifwebe any mo
because young people don't respect it . . . N2 arrives ... L leaves and ret
... adze blade falls out... L makes new chip... N leaves. 10:09 Finis
waist portion and starts on bottom skirt (Point C, Figure 1). 10:15 Fin
this... stands drum up on end, looks at it... goes to work on upper par
neck ... talk over question of whether there will be enough manioc ... man
leaves . . . M leaves .. .man #4 arrives ... L still regarding drum c
ly. 10:26 L2 finishes this portion and begins to trim uppermost portion w
adze ... whole process this morning has been to trim, resulting in making dr
slightly smaller and smoother .. M returns. 10:33 L2 finishes this por
... stands drum up, looks at it, stretches, leaves... very old man arrive
they discuss the building that the Sisters in Tshofa want them to build
remarks that rim ought to be leveled more ... N returns. 10:37 L2 retu
has been to relieve himself. . . L takes over at 10:39 with nkolo (s. and pl.),
blade about 34" wide with a hook at the end: 1. M goes to sharpen on rock
uses implement to go around inside. 10:42 M returns and begins to scoo
with sides of blade . . . L2 remarks is hard to work with tool at start but
easier . . .this is another smoothing process ... M leaves to sharpen tool . ..
begins squaring top with adze ... holds drum away and scrutinizes it often
M returns with nkolo ... L begins on inside again, holding drum between k
... M leaves, warning L to measure so he doesn't go through side ... L ignor
... M says hole not yet deep enough ... L holds handle with both hands
draws up and to the side ... M leaves ... L definitely making hollow deeper.
N leaves. 11:03 M returns and goes to work on his drum again .. N2 arr
with man #4... M leaves... man #5 arrives... L2 remarks that drum h
must be of tough skin... M chases someone away for reasons I do not under
stand ... N returns ... M says he is going to burn down the house of the man
chased away ... big laugh ... N leaves ... L2 stops to talk of the color he
use on the drum, and where to get it... man arrives with pineapple, discuss
price... A buys for 4 fr. 11:22 L passes drum to L2. .. N returns .. M6
rives... L2 begins lessening thickness of lip with adze from inside ... M
M6 bundle of raffia ribre ... M6 leaves... L2 rotates drum and regards w
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
86 MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA
closely and carefully. 11:30 Begins making mouth wider with adze
rives:
... gives advice. 11:34 Takes chisel and mallet to cut underlip which has been
much diminished by widening mouth... pretty well obliterates under-
lip. 11:39 Takes nkolo and begins smoothing inside ... M says L2's arms are
tired ... we quit.
... M sends L3 for knife to cut design, then sends him to get nkolo ... L2 stops
to light cigarette... M actually working on his drum... L2, who is 65, props
base of drum on piece of wood ... stops to talk about age ... M leaves... man
#2 arrives.. . says our night watchman owes him 25 fr. and now that he is
employed, will I pay his debt ... I say it is for him to arrange ... he leaves ...
M returns with his old tax book going back to 1923 ... M5 passes by on his way
to install door in my house ... adze blade falls out ... M leaves. 3:09 Finishes
with bottom and begins to trim very gently around base with adze, making it
slightly smaller... man #1 leaves .,.. man with debt comes back, shows his
papers and medal... says night watchman said he would have to wait ... leaves
... M returns, says he hasn't eaten and neither has L2. 3:14 They go to
eat. 3:27 M and L2 return ... N arrives ... L2 continues same task ... A says
he considers theft the worst possible crime ... A says it is not impolite to ask a
person what he has had to eat ... L3 says that murder is worse than theft ... M
leaves. 3:29 L2 finishes and spends more time squaring base . . . M returns
with drum for me to put papers on since folder has been blowing in wind...
debt man returns, leaves ... L2 asks for cigarette ... I give, he puts in pock-
et. 3:30 L2 finishes and begins on bottom skirt again . . . woman stops and
chats on way to get water .. M returns and works on his drum... N says L2
must make a hole so that they can put in a cord to carry the drum ... debt man
returns, speaks to M who replies in least aggressive way I have heard him speak
... debt man leaves ... N suggests putting rubber all around the rim to prevent
drummers from hurting hands... L2 says this is a good idea... N tells how
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA 87
snakes suck eggs and then you come and there is nothing but an eggshell ...
says he is tired and tells N to work on his drum. 3:40 L2 trims edges of base
again ... N refuses, M starts again ... L3 leaves. 3:42 L2 finishes and deepe
the places where the holes for cord will be. 3:44 Picks up knife (lupete,
mpete) and begins to cut design in neck... presses back of blade with lef
thumb ... N says, "If I watch you, I can do it." ... L2 grabs him by the ear an
says, "If you're going to watch and learn, then bring me a beer." ... talk abo
coloring... is carving diamond shapes in neck, V-shaped grooves ("design
kola, s. and pl.) ... no special names for designs (In following up the question
design later in the research period, it was discovered that the matter was no
simple one. In broad terms, however, kola is used most frequently to refer
any shape which is not a circle or a square and which is not filled in.) ... desi
is made on drum 1) to show maker's competence; 2) to "complete" the drum;
to give it an extra touch... N belches loudly... N showing off in front
APM, teases girls who pass, throws stick at goat which is licking mortar ... ch
of Makola arrives ... N leaves. 4:27 L2 finishes design outline, regards careful
ly, deepens in some places, stretches . . . begins parallel lines inside triangles
between diamonds .. . chief leaves ... is cutting opposite triangles... man
rives, leaves ... M asks L2 whether the hollow inside his drum is all right... M
leaves. 4:44 L2 says he is tired, and we quit.
M leaves... K2 and two children arrive, leave (K2 was a vigorous middle-ag
man, highly respected in the village. Less than two weeks later, on Septembe
28, he fell dead, probably of a heart attack, thereby setting off a long string
witchcraft accusations and actions in the village) ... A's mother's sister arrive
from Makola with a child... greets A with open arms.. . A seems rather shy,
has not seen her since he returned ... L arrives ... A's mother's sister leaves ...
boy leaves to hunt... N arrives... M arrives... C arrives . .. child leaves...
and C leave to see whether there is a fish in trap L has built in river.. .
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
88 MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA
remarks in leaving that one must always think of Efile Mukulu (God) if one is
have luck ... M leaves, returns... remarks that someone is here with elephant
tusks, but no one in the village knows how to work ivory... M sharpens adze
... man comes with ivory, two small tusks for sale at 10 frs./kilogram...
works on his drum... two young men arrive ... two girls come by with palm
nuts, much badinage ... N goes to join them at mortar, comes back eating pal
nut ... P arrives, leaves ... 2 young men leave ... P arrives and leaves again ...
L2 has continued with the design... skips a triangle and makes a mistake.
will now have two adjacent triangles with same pattern... L2 is annoyed with
mistake and says so... finishes triangles that are wrong and then looks ve
carefully at the next one to do ... reverses pattern correctly ... man ar
rives. 9:13 L2 goes to relieve self... hear someone singing... A and N say
is one person singing to a crying child... I say more than one ... turns out to
be several boys... man leaves. 9:15 L2 returns and continues design... to
play with child I touch tip of nose with tongue... everyone astonished.
comes out that this indicates that one tells the truth ... if there is an argumen
one person says to the other, "Touch your nose with your tongue." If he can
then he is lying... A says no one in village can do it, and no one in prese
group can... I wiggle ears... terrible astonishment... L2 remarks that only
angry lions can do this ... M leaves in astonishment and some fear ... N leaves
... A's mother's sister comes by again ... L2 explains about ears... woma
leaves... M returns, sharpens tools ... M leaves, returns, eats mango, disa
pears... N returns... M really has some fear about the tongue and ear bit
... L2 sharpens knife ... still working on design ... I cross eyes .. astonish
ment... no one can do... N2 arrives... I do string game... everyone tries
... child shows me very similar trick with legs instead of fingers ... M says it
hot in sun and I ought to move ... I do .. L2 working on hole places becau
he has arrived there in working the design ... I do ball in elbow trick... they
clearly separate tongue and ear bits as different from tricks ... N2 still doub
tongue bit... I do . . . N2 says it is "a miracle" . . . kids can turn little fingers
straight up at first joint... put matchstick on back of thumb and can ho
there... I can't... chicken house man arrives and leaves. 10:34 L2 takes
scraper and begins smoothing section just below neck... man arrives and leaves
with N2 ... L2 sharpens scraper ... child arrives with small bag on string around
neck... put there to protect him if parents have been childless for a long
time... L2 holds one hand close to blade and one hand at end of handle and
draws ... N is hollowing M's drum. 10:44 L2 finishes scraping and is now
cleaning shelf below (Groove V, Fig. 1) ... kids wrap green string around finger,
cut, bury in hole in ground, and it comes out whole ... kids do this for M ... he
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA 89
is astonished, says he has never seen the trick before ... N leaves. 10:
starts on waist portion with scraper .. . M leaves .. N returns... tsetse fly
pears, L2 recognizes, and doesn't like it... L2 uses knife on shelf above
(Point D, Fig. 1)... kids do trick with seeds involving a sentinel, two thieves
goats ... N leaves ... L2 sharpens scraper ... A says people do not make c
of goat's milk although some do drink the milk ... L2 remarks that he is
ing so that color will go on well, and because drum is going to Americ
returns and goes to work; is very quiet. . . L2 alternates with knife and scr
... N2 arrives and leaves... L2 very careful with shelves. 11:07 Rever
drum and begins scraping lower half of skirt ... N2 arrives ... L2 moves ou
sun ... M brings up tongue bit again ... I ask where L2 went... A says he w
to get a drink, but M says he went to relieve himself .. big laugh. 11:
leaves. 11:15 L2 back at work .. remarks it would be easier with a file ... M
returns with matches . . . L2 sharpens scraper with back of knife . . . asks wheth-
er APM wants to go with them when they look for roots to make the color ... I
say "yes" . . . M says, "If we go alone together, maybe he'll do some more
terrible things" ... is definitely uncertain .. . N arrives . . . M leaves . . .talk
about color ... M returns ... L finishes scraping by moving around (not up and
down) waist itself to remove last chips... sharpens scraper with knife. 11:34
L2 begins working on bottom skirt... M sends N2 to chase goats from goat-
house ... N2 beats with piece of rope ... L2 trims bottom shelf. 11:40 M
suggests we quit ... L2 wants to finish this job. 11:42 We quit.
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
90 MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA
are M, L2, N, N2, A, L3, M5, K, several boys... K sharpens adze and t
over, L2 supervising him closely ... tell how someone this morning m
brother for an animal and fired at him ... K has cut down on one side to even
the circle ... now peels rest of rim down with adze ... M5 busy making bow, M
working on his drum... K now rounds edge where drummers' hands will
hit... K working with care and L2 watching closely... people comment that
APM had clean clothes this morning, now dirty from being in bush, D (washboy)
will have to wash tomorrow. 3:56 K finishes ... L2 picks up adze and bevels
inside and outside edges of mouth ... finishes off with knife ... someone calls
attention to M's moustache ... he twirls ... takes a joke well ... talk turns to
tongue bit... everyone has heard about it. 3:05 L2 begins scraping outside
rim. 3:07 M5 begins scraping inside ... L2 sharpens scraper... N goes and
gets root... gives to M... L2 takes over inside scraping... M cuts root in
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA 91
half... K leaves... N puts half of root back in hole and covers ... talk again
turns to my tricks ... L3 tries trick with matchbox, smashes it, and is aggrieved.
3:17 L2 finishes with inside ... takes scraper and touches up spots on neck
... puts drum on knees and touches up design with knife ... occurs to me small
boys are around because school is out on Wednesday afternoons ... L2 touching
up area around where hole will be ... K returns, tries rope trick, fails ... tries
again and succeeds ... L2 carves last triangle design near where hole will be ...
M scrapes off thin brown outer bark of root and exposes magenta inner
bark. 3:27 L2 sets drum down with finality ... N returns with goatskin which
he spreads on ground, hide down ... N starts scraping root .. K takes over ...
wood very wet... peeled scraps of inner bark fall on goatskin. 3:34 L2 di-
rects N to make ball of bark and rub on section between neck and waist... big
crowd now... N follows by doing waist... stains a deep brown orange...
scrapes off a dirt spot at L2's direction before staining ... N then does base ...
L2 watching critically ... N does neck ... discover small hole in side ... says it
must be plugged... stain brings out design beautifully. 3:47 N puts drum in
sun to dry ... has not done uppermost section which will be covered by drum-
head, or upper or lower rims ... L2 remarks can put oil on bark if it becomes
too dry. 3:50 Quit, while stain dries. 5:24 L2 and M come to house to put
on second coat... bring small container of palm oil... M dips ball of bark in
oil... oil is to prevent drum from cracking and to keep bark wet... finish
5:35.
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
92 MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA
... call the glue kabanda also ... use water-kisale mixture to soften glue and to
prevent so much from sticking on hands. 9:05 Wait around for something to
plug hole in drum ... it never arrives... N2 uses hot palm nut and its oil to get
glue off hands ... boys arrive with kibonja, (pl. bikonja), a heavy liana ... bend
into circle and tie knot, more an intertwining of the ends ... takes four men to
do it... twist to make it more pliant... M is only one who knows name of this
liana. 9:20 We walk 50 yards into the bush because women cannot see this
.. .now have a sort of cushion of liana bent into a circle ... tie four bundles of
kisale to cushion at points equivalent of corners, though cushion is circular
rather than square ... place drum on cushion ... send small boys out as guards
to warn women away... N2 places wet goatskin, hair up, on top drum...
women come anyway, but pass by quickly and generally with eyes averted ...
N2 trims off hide at legs... one man takes place at each of four corners .. put
3 palm nuts under hide, bundle hide around them, and tie off the bundle...
these placed at the legs of the hide and directly above the four bundles of
kisale ... then re-tie bundles with raffia... now tie hide down tight from bun-
dles of, nuts to cushion by means of fibre bundles attached to cushion ... these
wet and will shrink as they dry and thus pull drumhead tighter ... keep wrapping
and wrapping with kisale until have ropes at least an inch thick... N2 is defi-
nitely in charge of this operation .. finish at 9:43. N2 leads prayer, after some
foot shuffling on my account, during which all cross selves twice ... N2 then
puts stick under rope and makes a complete turn... tie down the raffia so
won't slip .. .woman coming and they take drum hurriedly farther off into bush
... real labor to give stick a full turn ... tighten one stick another full turn and
then another, after wetting head again with water ... find hole in head ... som
consternation . .. tighten another stick and rope breaks... act as though they
expected it... take all sticks off, and entire broken rope, including bun-
dle. 10:01 Trim off hide which is clearly too long... shift hide so hole no
longer on top . .. N2 peels hair off surface of head ... finds other possible weak
spots in hide, but continues (note: never did plug hole in body)... wets head
again . . . waiting for more fibre ... sends someone for more water
10:16 Boy returns with more water and bark fibre... must strip out inner
bark and use that. 10:20 N2 starts process again, making new rope ... A and
one man giggling like silly school girls ... N2 remains serious and intent ... wets
ropes and hide heavily. 10:32 Start with sticks again ... order is 1-3 on oppo-
site sides, change to 1-2 because do not have enough hide at 3 to cover glue ...
then 3 ... .more water . . .break stick-rope tie at 2, have to do it again ...
switch to 4, give it two turns ... #3 terrific; six young men with all strength
cannot turn stick ... more water... finally get it... ground all churned up
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA 93
where they struggled to turn it ... turn some sticks clockwise and some
clockwise . . give #1 another half turn and cord partly breaks ... now
loose flap of hide and add fifth set nuts, rope and stick ... get three turn
stick ... look over carefully and tighten one stick ... N2 taps head and a
sound ... tightens another stick ... takes off #5, not tight enough ... sh
rope ... gives stick one full turn ... tightens another one half turn
whether tight enough by tapping and listening to tone at each pr
point. 11:15 N2 stands up and says it is finished... take to M's hou
M has built a stand of three poles about 5' high ... put on top of stand
(In later work with informants, the following points emerged. Ideally, n
should see the drum-making process, but in fact it is women who
intercourse that morning who are particularly enjoined. This also applies
The night before the drumhead was to be mounted, N2 went from ho
house warning the men who were to take part not to have intercourse
morning. Most specifically, such a person must not touch the drumhead
she does, the skin will fail to fix tightly against the glue, the work m
particularly difficult, and quite probably a new skin will have to be fo
the work begun again. The tabu, of course, also functions as an exp
principle; if something does go wrong, it can be explained in term
supposition that someone who worked on the drumhead or touched it
intercourse that morning. N2 came to my house the same night to say
was well with the head and, with genuine satisfaction, that this prove
had had intercourse that morning and then touched the drum. In this m
an outsider, do not count. The prayer led by N2 was addressed to Efile
(God); it is a general prayer used in advance of a large variety of op
asking for good fortune in the undertaking.
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
94 MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA
and point ends ... put strip into position near top of drum, try driving
of splinters... no go... N2 leaves to look for nails... M brings old b
tool and they take some nails from it... N2 returns with one nail, they
have five ... put strip of skin with hair side to drum ... pound nails wi
... have trouble because drum slopes toward top and strips won't fit fl
L2 arrives ... makes them take off strips they have done ... says they s
lower... also there is fringe of hair on strips and they have been left p
up... L2 points out that this will hurt drummers' hands. 8:47 L2
charge ... trims hair fringe from strips ... M scrapes sides of hide with
L2 puts strips much lower ... drills hole in strips with metal awl... look
as though the strips are now going to cover part of design on neck. . .
nothing... L2 puts on some strips with fringe of hair out... turn
around looking for a place to put last two nails... woman arrives an
several comments. 8:57 Finish this job ... L2 now begins placing slivers
drilling holes with awl . . about V?" apart. .. cuts off flush... befor
rived, M said he didn't have a hammer... it appeared immediately
started working ... N2 leaves .. M making slivers... flattens sliver heads
hammer... M7 arrives, says has something to talk over with M ... they
M's house ... A says M7 is the greatest Bala singer... seems effeminate t
with mincing walk and quick, nervous gestures; stands like woman... h
with one of M's two guns... M and L2 leave, probably to have a drin
turn... discuss price of drums... M raises price of drum from 80
frs.... says APM will have to decide on price for the new one... N2
leaves ... L2 has knife making slivers ... boy pounding says he cannot co
because L2 has knife and he can't cut slivers off flush ... L2 tells him t
driving in every other hole... he does. 9:38 Finish driving slivers
begins cutting off excess skin with knife flush with bottom of str
arrives ... L2 finishes cutting and then cuts skin down and tightening ap
falls off... immediately begins cleaning off excess glue and hair along c
friend of M's says he can't collect debt ... M says, "Don't worry, I'll app
his goods and sell them." ... A says M can do this because he is the yepa
the four quarter chiefs of the village who have legal responsibilities at th
level of the political order.) 10:00 Finishes and begins scraping hair off
of drumhead ... cleans more glue ... uses pointed awl to clean design
arrive with shredded palm nut fibre ... L2 says wait... brush off drum
with piece of goatskin to clean ... take heading apparatus away becau
not dispose of carefully, dogs will eat goatskin and get sick, cough, an
this stated as a fact ... M brings palm oil and N2 begins to rub on
drum... L2 leaves to get more nut fibre which is used as a "sponge" to p
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA 95
on ... changes to a bit of rag ... I finally ask what L2 thinks about having
design covered after he spent so much time working on it... he replies, "I
always like that," and clearly doesn't care ... someone brings bundle o
raffia ... N2 rubs all over the drum with it... has put drum on goatskin t
it from getting dirtier. 10:22 Go to bush, chop gash in what appears t
strangler fig (moko, pl. miyoko). . . white liquid comes out (maka,
pl.)... tree has been well used judging from number of scars on it... c
drops on drumhead and rub over whole surface... bring back to M's
10:27 ... heat head over fire of brush for about one minute ... surface now
shiny and tacky . .. this is some sort of glue . . . have smallish ball of rubber
(bulondo, s. and pl.) ... mak, small balls and press on head ... rubber not raw
but already prepared by heating... say must have rubber to make drum sound
louder ... press rubber balls flat ... try drum... don't like sound and take off
rubber because there is not enough ... no more around. 10:50 We quit.
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
96 MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA
Mukanwa - "mouth"
4"
y" t: I
S Shingo -
-"neck"
3/16"
5?"
y 9 / Kitako - "bottom"
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA 97
spread out over a much longer period of time-quite probably several weeks or
even months-and that work would not have continued in a concentrated fash-
ion throughout a single day or probably even a half day.
This may indicate one of two things. Either drum-making is not itself an
important process for the Bala, or work patterns simply do not involve long
periods of concentration upon a single task. In fact, the answer lies somewher
in between. A drum is a fairly important cultural item for the Bala, but its
importance depends partly, at least, upon its availability. In this case, othe
drums were already available in the village, this particular instrument was des
tined to leave the area, and therefore no particular urgency attached itself to th
process, although pains were taken precisely because it was to be transported to
America. Were no drums available, it is probable that work would be reasonably
intense, but not as intense as in the present case.
Work patterns, as viewed throughout the duration of the research period,
do differ sharply from those followed in the industrialized world, and this fact
has been commented upon by many observers of Africa. Whereas Westerners
tend to stick to a single task-the ultimate example is the assembly line-or to a
group of single tasks each of which is finished before the next is begun, the Bala
neither keep regular hours nor consider it essential to complete tasks. Wherea
our overall activities tend to fall into a regular cycle of events and patterns, Bala
work is much less regularized and formalized. This is partly due, of course, to
the agricultural cycle with which the Bala are in close touch and which strongly
affects the kind of work being done at a particular season of the year, but it is
also a general pattern of life. Activities in any given day tend to vary sharply
and this is also the case with allocations of work over any longer period of time
For example, taking only the most important focus of the day's activities, the
following work arrangements were carried out by an informant during a single
month selected at random: X spent eleven days working in the fields, three day
working as a tailor, one day repairing the roof of his house, one day collecting
palm nuts in the forest, one day at home because of the illness of his child, two
days at home because of his own illness, five days in travel, and six days in rest
In the same month, Y spent eight days in the fields, one day collecting palm nuts
in the forest, twelve days in travel, two days at home because of his own illness
and seven days in rest. These two are both older men, both are horticulturalists,
and the period fell within a time or rather heavy agricultural activity. While the
differences in their allocation of time is important, major attention is called here
to the diversity of their activities during the month.
Thus the drum-making situation described above represents a somewhat
special case in respect to work patterns-while the work was continued through
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
98 MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA 99
Plate II. Bala 3-drum choir. Instrument on right is the subject of this article. (Photo
by Barbara W. Merriam)
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
100 MERRIAM: DRUM-MAKING AMONG THE BALA
Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana
This content downloaded from 164.41.83.253 on Mon, 18 Sep 2017 17:24:02 UTC
All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms