Drums and the Yoruba

Drum music holds a very special place in the Yoruba religions, to the point where only specially trained priests and priestesses are allowed to lay them during ceremonies. In the Americas, the drums used are called the bata and they are always in a set of three hourglass shaped drums each a different size. They create a high-pitched hollow sound when played. For ceremonies, each Yoruban diety has his or her own special tune, known as a toque, used to call them down and join in the celebrations. It is very common for the diety to possess at least one of their omo-Orisha during the ceremony. The video below shows a set of drummers playing Ellegua's toque while believers dance: