Drummer's Sage

 

Drummer's Sage

"Another great obstacle to the relaying of drum messages over great distances is

 the fact of the tribal nature of most drum languages. 

Since the drum language is based on the tribal tongue it is usually understood only

 by members of the tribe. 

There is no "international" drum language in Africa any more 

than there is a common spoken language.

..So that at the boundary of the tribal group sending out a message 

there would be a check in transmission. 

This check could only be overcome if a drummer were available 

who understood the drum language of his own, 

and of the neighbouring tribe. 

Such men do occur in boundary villages.

Children of parents who come from two different tribes 

often learn both languages and become bilingual on the drum. 

But they are not numerous 

and this fact makes it difficult to relay a drum message 

across the boundary of the tribe. 

Thus, many of the stories of news travelling 

across vast areas of Africa in a very short time

 must be accepted with great reserve."

~  JF Carrington 

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