Which West African drum is known as the talking drum and is played under the arm?

• A. Djembe
• B. Udu
• C. Bata
• D. Tama

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is identifying the instrument that can imitate speech by changing its pitch when squeezed under the arm. The tama is an hourglass-shaped drum traditionally worn under the arm, and its pitch is altered by squeezing the middle with the arm or by adjusting tension, allowing the player to “talk” through the drum as if it were speaking. That unique playing technique is what gives it the name talking drum.

The other drums don’t rely on this under-the-arm pitch modulation. The djembe is a hand drum played on the lap or between the knees without the arm-squeeze technique. The udu is a clay pot drum played with the hands, producing tones through air and fingerwork rather than under-the-arm tension. The bata is a double-headed drum played with the hands and used in ceremonial contexts, not primarily for speech-like articulation. So the tama best fits the description.