Traditionally used within the Afrocuban
religion Regla de Ocha to honour and invoke ancestor spirits
(Egun) and deities (Orisha) batá drumming has become a central part of Cuba's national heritage. The Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba regularly performs theatrical presentations of drumming,
songs and dances for the Orisha, and families and friends across the island regularly gather together to play and sing and
invoke this healing energy in religious ceremonies and informal fiestas.
Played in sets of three, batá drums accompany call and response singing and dances that embody
the mythic dimensions of the Orisha. Rhythms for 'hot' Orisha like Shango, the great thunder god, and Oya, goddess of the
tempest, tend to be dynamic and exciting, whereas rhythms for 'cool' Orisha, like Obatala, the wise and gentle king, and Yemaya,
divine mother and goddess of the sea, tend to be stately and elegant.
Considered the cornerstone of Afrocuban drumming and regarded as one of the treasures of Afro-Atlantic culture, batá
drumming is a unique bridge between ancient and modern worlds, from early Yoruba city-states to 21st century urban centres
from Havana to London.
