These are exquisite reproductions of the Maranao temple drums that in the past the sultan would use to call his people to town meetings.
Manila, 2009
I found them at a native craft market called Tiendesitas, but they were likely made by traditional woodcarvers in Lanao del Sur on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. The Maranao tribe, largest of the indigenous Muslim Moro ethnic group, is well-known and admired for their beautiful arts and crafts - weaving, wood and metal craft - as well as their epic literature.
The one question I had that I could not find an answer to is why they are called temple drums when followers of Islam worship in a mosque.
Today I am joining Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday where the letter of the day is D. You'll be surprised how many creative posts "D" can make.