An examination of one of the most sophisticated, intriguing, and elusive of the world"s drumming traditions An iconic symbol and sound of the Lucumi/Santeria religion, AfroCuban bata are talking drums that express the epic mythological narratives of the West African Yoruba deities known as orisha. By imitating aspects of speech and song and by metaphorically referencing salient attributes of the deities, bata drummers facilitate the communal praising of orisha in a music ritual known as a toque de santo. In The Artistry of Afro-Cuban Bata Drumming, Kenneth Schweitzer blends musical transcription, musical analysis, interviews, ethnographic descriptions, and observations from his own experience as a ritual drummer to highlight the complex variables at work during a live Lucumi performance. Integral in enabling trance possessions by the orisha, by far the most dramatic expressions of Lucumi faith, bata drummers are also entrusted with controlling the overall ebb and flow of the fourto...