Skip to main content
Collections Menu
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA
Talking Drum
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA
Copyright and other proprietary rights in material on this site may be held by individuals or entities other than or in addition to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. The John F. Kennedy Library does not warrant that the use of materials displayed on this site will not infringe on the rights of third parties, such as artists or artists' heirs holding the rights to these works. It is your responsibility to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions before copying, transmitting, or making other use of protected items beyond that allowed by "fair use," as such term is understood under the United States Copyright Act. The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum respects the intellectual property rights of others. The John F. Kennedy Library may, in appropriate circumstances and at its discretion, remove, disable and/or terminate access to any material on or linked to or from this site that it suspects to be infringing upon a third party's intellectual property rights or other rights.

Talking Drum

Artifact IDMO 63.1883
Object Type Drum
Date 20th century
Maker
Gifter
Place MadeTanganyika, Africa
Medium Leather; wood
DimensionsOverall H 18 in x W 9 in (45.7 cm x 22.9 cm)
Physical DescriptionLeather and wood drum in hourglass shape with a handle attached to the side.



Historical NoteThe talking drum (aka. dondo, adondo, atumpan, or gan gan) gets its name from its unique ability to closely imitate the rhythms and intonations of spoken language. It is a variable pitch pressure drum with hide or fish-skin heads wrapped around wooden hoops at either end of the drum's wood body. Usually, leather cords or thongs run the length of the drum's body and are wrapped around both hoops; when you squeeze these cords under your arm, the drum heads tighten, changing the instrument's pitch.

This talking drum was made in Tanganyika, an East African republic within the Commonwealth of Nations, named after Lake Tanganyika, which formed its western border. In 1946 it became a trust territory of the United Nations, still governed by the United Kingdom, finally gaining independence on December 9, 1961. The Republic of Tanganyika was established a year later, June 9, 1962. In 1964, it united with the island of Zanzibar to form Tanzania.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteItem was a gift from a foreign official to the President and First Lady received through the Executive office during the Kennedy Administration and transferred to the General Service Administration where it was held until donated to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum by the Estate of President John F. Kennedy in 1965.
Credit LineJohn F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA; Gift of the Estate of President John F. Kennedy
National Archives Catalog CollectionJohn F. Kennedy Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 1676934)
National Archives Catalog SeriesGifts from Heads of State (National Archives Identifier 1677008)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedUse Restriction NoteReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view