TALKING DRUMS

In their changing pitch is the tonality of the people's language,
Within their chambers is the rhythm of the gods,
They pacify the phantom of our ancestors,
And keep alive, the tranditions and cultures of the people,

The folk dance without them, are incomplete,
In the feet of the maiden dancers, the right steps, their regular beats enshrine, and their waists rhythmically sway,
The transitional sounds which emerge from the manipulations of their strings resound in the land of the spirits, communicating salutation, and in the hearts of the people, drowning their sorrows,
And into the minds of the young, their melody sings knowledge, and in the grey hair of the aged, creates a receptacle of wisdom,

Their throbbing, into the arms of the warrior seep courage, and their feet make bravery-clad,
Their folk, the people unite, and the songs of their feuds into insignificance fade,
The winds of calamity, their response with each strike, avert,
And far from the communal borders, evil powers, their loud lyrical notes ward off, creating an atmosphere of tranquility.

N/B: The talking drums are a unique type of drums of African-origin. They play an important role in the culture of the African people, especially those in the Western parts of Nigeria.