Yoruba Folklore: Bata drums

Bata drums belong to Yoruba slaves. Two-headed drums producing two or three basic sounds, in Africa they are played only for Changó and the Egungun mask society. In Cuba, they are played for any yoruba god. Therefore, new rhythms have been invented, adapted from other drums, onto the bata drums. The repertoire of music played on that drum is huge, therefore it is the masterpiece of traditionnal afro-cuban music.
The small piece here is a bit of instrumental salute to Orichas (yoruba gods) called "orú seco". Within this musical piece, opening each normal ritual, "toques" are played (specific drum parts) for more or less twenty Orichas. Here, one pasted to the other, are the following: Oricha Oko (Oricha of agriculture), Ibeyi (twin gods), Changó (god of fire and thunder), Yewa (goddess in charge with leading the dead to heaven), Oyá (goddess of storm and Niger river, Changó's wife), and Yemayá (goddess of the ocean and mother of Changó).
Manley "Piri" plays lead drum (Iyá) center, and Antoine Miniconi plays the "second" drum (Itótele, right). Thirs drum (Okónkolo) is played by Eliade López, young member of the Chinitos family and of their drummers'community.