The Baka are an ethnic group living in the southeastern rainforest of Cameroon, Africa. To them, the rainforest is not only a collection of tree but their home. As part of their long tradition, music plays an important part in the lives of rainforest inhabitant. The function of music/sound does not only serves as a mean of entertainment but a form of communication as well.
The Baka believe that when disaster strikes, the rainforest has gone to sleep. They use music to wake the forest back up. Baka music relies heavily on a capella singing, with improvised string instruments and "water drums." The sound of the water drum is created by slapping water in a stream or pond with the hands. Though their neighbors sometimes call the Baka loud, they have developed their sounds as a way to communicate amidst thick vegetation. The Mbuti, a rainforest people from Congo, share this trait. Like many rainforest people, both the Baka and the Mbuti have songs for almost every occasion, from a pre-hunt cry to welcome melodies for village visitors. (article source: PBS - Rainforest music)
Let's look as an example of one of the Baka's favorite "instruments" - the Water drum:
Discussion
Water drumming is usually performed by women in the rainforest tribe. Why do you think so? How was this "instrument" invented in the first place?
