Tabulay Drum

A tabulay or thabule drum. The tabulay is a bowl shaped, laced drum with one skin. It is beaten by two people hitting it in turn with ropes ending in leather pouches filled with stones. The tabulay is used to call people to meetings or prayers. According to the Sierra Leone National Museum records, this example is thought to have been the original drum used by Bai Bureh during the Hut Tax War in 1898 and later taken to Freetown as war booty. A plaque attached to the base of the base of the drum reads Drum captured from Temnes at Massimera by detachment under command of Lt. Boileau. The inside of the drum is covered in Arabic script. It had been kept at the Wilberforce Barracks prior to being donated to the Sierra Leone National Museum in 1991.

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Further Information

• Type: Musical instruments
• Object: Tabulay Drum
• Materials: Wood, Leather, animal skin
• Culture Group: Temne, Loko
• Dimensions: Unknown
• Production Date: Pre 1885
• Associated Places: Unknown
• Associated People: Wilberforce Barracks (Donor); Bai Burah (Previous owner)
• Museum: Sierra Leone National Museum
• Accession Number: SLNM.1991.03.07

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