atabaques

Atabaque (plural atabaques) is a tall, cylindrical hand drum rooted in Afro-Brazilian religious music. It is closely associated with Candomblé and Umbanda ceremonies, where it provides the rhythmic foundation and is regarded as sacred in nature. The instrument is traditionally carved from hardwood and has a single drumhead stretched over the top; the shell is open at the bottom to produce a deep, resonant sound.

Construction commonly uses a wooden shell with the drumhead made from animal skin, typically goat or cow, though some modern atabaques use synthetic heads. The head is tensioned with ropes or lugs, and the body may be finished with lacquer or left natural. Atabaques come in several sizes to form a percussion group, often three drums of different sizes that are played together by a percussionist or a group of initiates.

Playing and role: It is played with the hands, producing bass, tone, and slap sounds. In many practices, three atabaques of different sizes form a set, with the largest providing the foundational pulse and the smaller ones weaving interlocking rhythms. The rhythms interact with other percussion and vocal lines, guiding ritual movement and actions.

Origins and cultural significance: The instrument traces its roots to West African drum traditions brought to Brazil during the transatlantic slave trade and was adopted into Afro-Brazilian religious life. Today atabaques remain central to ritual music, with specific patterns associated with different orixás or spirits. In contemporary contexts, they are also used in secular Brazilian music and world music projects, though sacred use is often reserved for initiated practitioners and ritual settings.