Table of Contents

Contents: Preface; The telegraph without wire; An extension of mouth: how the Bàtá talks; Other voices: the Omele Méta and the Ìyáàlù Dùndún; Speaking in codes: Enà Bàtá; Epilogue: Bàtá is the mouthpiece of Awo; Appendices; Bibliography; Discography; Index.

Preface; The telegraph without wire; An extension of mouth: how the bata talks; Other voices: the omele meta and the lyaalu Dundun; Speaking in codes: ena bata; Bata is the mouthpiece of awo; Bibliography; Discography; Appendices; Index.

About the Author

Dr Amanda Villepastour, Curator of musical instruments, MIM, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

Reviews

‘… the book is a most important contribution not only to the study of bàtá message drumming, but to the study of the Yorùbá language, its representations on "talking" instruments, and many adjoining areas of research, including the organology of the bàtá set and Yorùbá culture history in general.’ Gerard Kubik in African Music‘Villepastour’s research and analyses are remarkable for breaking apart and decoding the puzzle that is Yorùbá bàtá speech.’ Anthropos‘… highly recommended for students in African ethnomusicology, drumming researchers, and those interested in learning a bit more about Yoruba drumming language. I guarantee it will speak to you.’ Inside world Music'… this book is a tour de force. It is a welcome resource for organologists, ethnomusicologists, and drummers; and it also offers much of interest to linguists, anthropologists, and persons involved inAfrican Studies.' Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society