LP Oconcolo Batá Drum: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This drum was made by Latin Percussion Inc. in Garfield, New Jersey, in 1999. It is a Batá Drum, Oconcolo (Small) with 5” and 6-3/4” head sizes, made of oak, with chrome fittings, and with a webbing sling. This drum is from a matched set of three bata drums, Oconcolo (2000.3030.14.01), Omele / Itolele (2000.3030.14.02), and Iyá

As indicated in an LP brochure from the period, “LP Founder and Chairman, Martin Cohen, first came across bata drums more than thirty years ago at a religious ceremony in the Bronx, New York. Traditionally Batas are ceremonial drums that are played in groups. At least three people sit, each with a different size drum, and act out "call and answer" patterns which are played on the drums.”

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date made: 1999
• maker: Latin Percussion
• Object Name: drum
• Physical Description: oak (overall material)
• Physical Description: metal (overall material)
• Physical Description: animal skin (overall material)
• Physical Description: webbing (overall material)
• Measurements: overall: 18 1/2 in x 8 3/4 in; 46.99 cm x 22.225 cm
• place made: United States: New Jersey, Garfield
• ID Number: 2000.3039.14.01
• catalog number: 2000.3039.14.01
• nonaccession number: 2000.3039
• Credit Line: Transfer from Smithsonian Institution Center for Latino Initiatives (through: Dr.Refugio l. Rochin,Director)
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.