Baskadia

Talking Drums: Rhythms of Yoruba Tales

In Yoruba land, where culture thrives and prevails,

Reside the Talking Drums, their stories unveil.

With rhythms and beats, they come alive,

Tales of heritage, they beautifully contrive.

In their hollowed hearts, secrets are sealed,

A language unique, by hand and stick revealed.

Dundun, Gangan, and Bata's sweet song,

Together they weave stories, both short and long.

Dundun's deep bass, a heartbeat so strong, 

Gangan's sharp slaps, like laughter in song.

Bata's intricate dance, like a spider's art,

In their rhythms, Yoruba's history takes part.

They speak of heroes, of legends of old,

Of battles and triumphs, courageous and bold.

The Talking Drums, with their voices profound,

Convey the essence of Yoruba's sacred ground.

Through village squares and moonlit nights,

Their tales take flight to dazzling heights.

In rhythm and rhyme, they captivate all,

Young and old, they heed the drum's call.

So let's celebrate the Talking Drums' power,

Their role in Yoruba storytelling, hour by hour.

In their rhythmic tales, the past comes alive,

In their beats, the spirit of Yoruba will thrive.

Ayan, the goat skin, taut and tight,

Ayan galu, the stage for rhythms to ignite. 

Igbe, Koso, Iya Ilu, and Bata, their kin,

Gudu-Gudu too, each with a story to begin.

Upon the Ayan, the Talking Drums take their stand,

Guided by skilled hands across Yoruba's grand land.

Their voices resonate, like whispers in the breeze,

Conversing in beats, with a soulful ease.

Igbe speaks of ancestors, their wisdom and grace,

Koso dances with joy, in a lively embrace.

Iya Ilu's rhythms, a mother's lullaby,

Bata, a storyteller, with tales reaching high.

Gudu-Gudu, the master of playful delight, 

All gather together, under the moon's soft light.

On the Ayan galu, their tales intertwine,

In Yoruba's heart, their legacy's design.

Through their rhythms, they bridge the divide,

Past and present together, side by side.

The Talking Drums, in unity, they play,

Carrying Yoruba's heritage, come what may.

So, in awe of their power, let us stand,

As the Talking Drums echo across the land.

Their rhythms and beats, a cultural treasure,

We honor them now and forever, with boundless measure.                                                      

                                Adewordsmith