Bata is another popular drum in Yoruba land. It usually used for specially choreographed (or designed) dance.
Historically, Bata drum is used to praise traditional rulers and chiefs. In small towns, Bata drummers still drum for local kings and chiefs on weekly basis. For it energetic rhythm, Bata drum is favourite in Sango and Egungun masquerade dance. Today, Bata drum is used as part of ensemble of drums in contemporary Yoruba music.
Bata drummers could skillfully use the drum to recite oriki - the poetic eulogy of the Yoruba people according to individual lineage and root. Bata can also be used to make proverbial and idiomatic expression in musical tunes or to enhance beat in full drum performance.
Bata drumming and dancing requires lots of energy. This adds to the fun or excitement for the audience. The highly acrobatic and aerobic bata beats generates energy within dancers and the listeners alike.
In Bata, drummers and dancers work as a team. Dancers synchronized their movement with the energetic drum beat as well as what the drum is saying. Due to the energetic nature of the beat, dancers movement is usually fast paced.
Bata drummers come to be due to their ancestral root and lineage. This means that Ayandeji is a bata drummer because his father and grand father were. In Bata families, like many other Yoruba drum familes, children are introduced to drumming early. This help build love for drumming and reinforce skills.
Bata drum like other Yoruba drums are made from all natural organic materials. Making of these drums is a skill on its own.
See Bata ensenble here. The same group of drummers appear here.
Watch a new group of Bata drummers.