On the first floor of the Douala Maritime Museum, you will find a drum, a traditional object used to announce or convey messages to the village community. Before the advent of smartphones, many people relied on this means of communication.

This ancestral tool has played and continues to play an essential role in many traditional cultures, particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America. As a communication tool, the drum is used to convey messages, news and emotions across communities.

In some cultures, the drum is considered a language in its own right. The rhythm and sounds produced by the drum can convey specific information such as:

*Warning or summoning messages

*Announcements of festivals or ceremonies

 *Important news such as the birth or death of a member of the community.

 *Calls for hunting or war.

 It all depends on the rhythm of the drum.