- Date of Birth:
- N/A
- Place of Birth:
- Ghana
Fontomfrom is an Ashanti type of hourglass-shaped drum mostly used by an ensemble of Ashanti people to communicate Ashanti monarchy royal messages in an Ashanti people ethnic group setting.
The Fontomfrom ensemble provides music for ceremonies honoring Ashanti chiefs and Ashanti monarchy royal processions. The Fontomfrom is also used to recite proverbs or replicate patterns of speech at most Ashanti monarchy royal gatherings or an Ashanti monarchy royal durbar.
The Fontomfrom evolved from the popular hourglass-shaped drum (talking drum) of the 7th century. Shortly after the evolution, a few more non-hourglass shapes such as the Dunan, Sangban, Kenkeni, and Ngoma drums were produced.
Prior to the Fontomfrom becoming the ensemble that it is today, it was first acquired as a single drum by the Ashanti people after the Battle of Feyiase in 1701 (under the rule of Osei Kofi Tutu I). Since its procurement, the single, large Fontomfrom drum has grown to become an ensemble of several drums.
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