The tama is a very common musical instrument in West Africa. Because of its small size, the tama player is able to beat the drum and dance around at the same time. Good players of this particular instrument are also good dancers.
The tama is one of the most difficult instruments to play because the drummer must coordinate the intensity of squeezing the lengthwise strings under his arm to change the pitch and striking the small drum head with the curved stick for the rhythm.
Generally the skills needed by a tama player allow him to be proficient on many other sorts of drums.
Outside Senegal, the tama is often referred to as a “talking” drum because of its range in pitch.

(Le jouer de tama), 2001, 30” x 21”, Woodburning