The drum’s body is a carved wooden cylinder that narrows in the middle.

By squeezing the drum under their arm, players tighten these "vocal cords," instantly raising the pitch to mimic the glides and stresses of spoken language.

Check out these lessons to see how these legendary instruments are played and constructed: Watch these to see the talking drum and djembe in action:

Leather ropes connect the two drumheads across the narrow waist.

The inside isn't smooth; craftsmen carve spiral patterns or grooves into the interior walls to enhance tone and reduce overtones.