Bata
/ˈbɑː.tɑː/noun
A Yoruba double-headed drum used in traditional and ceremonial music, especially in rituals associated with the orisha Ṣàngó.
Did you know?Batá drumming is traditionally associated with Ṣàngó, the Yoruba orisha of thunder and lightning, and specific rhythmic patterns can function as ceremonial speech.
Etymological Timeline
Precolonial period
Yoruba
bàtá
“A sacred double-headed drum used in Yoruba musical and religious traditions.”
19th Century
Yoruba
bàtá
“A ritual drum associated particularly with Ṣàngó worship and other ceremonial performance.”
20th Century
English
bata
“An English borrowing referring to the Yoruba drum and its musical tradition.”
Modern English
English
batá
“A Yoruba double-headed drum, commonly written with an accent to preserve the original pronunciation.”