A drum with an hourglass shape and two heads, played by squeezing its cords to change the tension and produce different pitches, used to mimic the tones of human speech.

The talking drum, also known as the hourglass drum, is a unique West African percussion instrument that has a distinctive ability to mimic human speech. It consists of an hourglass-shaped drum with two heads, connected by a rope that can be squeezed to alter the pitch. The talking drum is played by striking the heads with a curved stick while simultaneously squeezing the rope to change the tension and produce a wide range of pitches, allowing the instrument to closely imitate the tones and rhythms of human language. The talking drum has a rich history, dating back centuries in West African cultures, where it was traditionally used for communication, storytelling, and ceremonial purposes.