kã̀nã̀ngǔ, tension drum, talking drum

Tension drum system used by the Nupe people of Nigeria, described in Blench (2010). The instrument itself (kã̀nã̀ngǔ in Nupe) is an “hourglass-drum” similar to other kàlànguu tension drums played throughout Northern Nigeria (Blench 2010:22).The language is tonal, with L, M, and H register tones, as well phonemic falling and rising contours (4).Writing generally about Nupe surrogate language, Blench says: “instrumental performance is characterised as a type of speech since instruments can imitate speech tones and thus ‘say’ things” (8). About the kã̀nã̀ngǔ: “At a wedding, the players make the rounds of the male guests, drumming proverbs and taki praise-epithets for them, in return for small presents of money” (22).

Blench, R. (2010). Oral literature genres of the Nupe of Central Nigeria. rogerblench.info