a large wooden drum or percussion instrument used in West African music, particularly in Yoruba traditions.
From Yoruba language of Nigeria, 'agba' is a direct borrowing referring to this specific drum type. The word entered English through ethnomusicological studies and cultural exchanges.
The agba is tuned by adjusting rope tension around its wooden body, making it one of the few drums that can produce different pitches—drummers use this to create conversations and tell stories through rhythm alone.
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