This drum is from the indigenous people of Guyana, South America. It was created by the Akawaio or Makushi people. The drum was made by stretching animal skin over the end of a hollow wooden tube and tightening it with string.
Guyana is over 85% tropical rainforest. The landscape is made up of mountains, savannahs, and rainforest. Indigenous people were traditionally semi-nomadic inhabiting various environments.
For both the Akawaio and Makushi cassava, a South American plant with large roots, is a staple part of their diet supplemented by both fishing and hunting.
The Akawaio and Makushi speak languages that are part of the Carib language family.
The drum was brought back from British Guiana by mining engineer Lester MacGillivray in the early 20th Century.
To learn more about artifacts similar to this one visit the Smithsonian and the British Museum's sites.
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