About

Ilu Gan Gan is an hourglass shaped talking drum which emanates from the Yoruba people of Nigeria. Described as talking drum because it is used as a means of communication among the Yoruba people of Nigeria, West Africa and in the Diaspora. As a musical instrument, it literally speaks, including in parables, to the understanding of many hearers. From this, it derived the name Ilu Gan Gan. Ilu, means drum, Gan Gan, its unique sound. The Gan Gan is played with a wooden beater; held underarm, squeezed and beaten to produce a range of tones. It has two drum heads made of leather and connected by strings of leather cords (Osan) which are squeezed intermittently as it is struck with the wooden beater (Opa) to make tones, rhythms and beats. The wooden beater is covered with leather to temper its impact on the drum heads. Gan Gan comes in one of two handles. Flap or Towel.