Abelam Tumbuna Drum (Abelam, New Guinea, Papua New Guinea)

The Tumbuna drum belongs to the traditional musical culture of the Abelam of the East Sepik region of New Guinea. Drums occupy an important position in Abelam ceremonial life and are used particularly during initiation ceremonies and yam festivals. In these contexts, drumming and singing form part of performances through which ancestral traditions and knowledge are expressed.

The drum is carved from a single piece of wood. According to the available documentation, Abelam drums were shaped with an adze and hollowed by a slow burning process. The wood had to dry gradually, since rapid drying could cause the body to crack. The production of such an instrument could therefore require several weeks or even months.

The instrument is designed to be held in one hand while the other hand strikes the drumhead. The drumhead is traditionally made from lizard skin. Small pellets of beeswax may be attached to the surface of the membrane in a circular arrangement. These alter the vibration of the head and can be used in adjusting the sound. Further tuning is achieved by heating the membrane over a fire, which increases its tension and consequently changes the pitch.

The present drum is particularly notable for the combination of its compact, functional form and extensive surface decoration. The carved ornament continues across the different sections of the body and incorporates the drum into the broader visual tradition of Abelam woodcarving. Its form and decoration demonstrate how a musical instrument could simultaneously serve as a carefully made object of ceremonial and artistic significance.

The Tumbuna drum therefore represents an important element of Abelam ceremonial practice, particularly in connection with initiation and yam festivals. Its construction, playing technique and elaborate carved decoration provide a concise example of the close relationship between musical performance and the visual arts in traditional Abelam culture.

Bibliography:
Koch, Gerd: Kultur der Abelam – Die Berliner Maprik-Sammlung.
Maaz, Klaus: Abelam – Die magische Welt der Abelam. Kunst und Kult in Papua-Neuguinea.
Hamson, Michael (ed.): Art of the Abelam. Contributions by Siobhan Campbell, Laurent Granier, Virginia-Lee Webb and Diane Sheehan.