The Artistry of Afro-Cuban Batá Drumming

An iconic symbol and sound of the Lucumí/Santería religion, Afro-Cuban batá are talking drums that express the epic mythological narratives of the West African Yoruba deities known as orisha . By imitating aspects of speech and song, and by metaphorically referencing salient attributes of the deities, batá drummers facilitate the communal praising of orisha in a music ritual known as a toque de santo . In The Artistry of Afro-Cuban Batá Drumming , Kenneth Schweitzer blends musical transcription,