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One of a trio of double-headed, hourglass-shaped drums used in Afro-Cuban santería music. Three sizes of batá exist and are considered collectively to a single instrument, known in Cuba as Ilú Aña. The largest drum, iyá, is always played by the master drummer and sets the rhythmic activity for the ensemble. The middle drum, itótele, "converses" with iyá and with it departs from the steady rhythm kept by the smallest drum, okónkolo. The ritual function of the batá ensemble is to coax one or more santería dieties (orishás) into possessing the mortal bodies of Yorubá worshippers. |
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