What were slit drums used for in different parts of Oceania?

In Oceania, slit drums serve diverse roles that extend beyond musical performance, often functioning as significant cultural and ritual objects. Their specific uses vary by region:

• Signaling and Communication: Due to their immense resonance and carrying power, slit drums are frequently employed as signaling instruments. In some cultures, they are used to transmit messages by mimicking the inflections of human speech. The Maori of New Zealand, for instance, utilize these instruments specifically for signaling purposes.12
• Ritual and Spiritual Significance: Slit drums are often regarded as possessing magical attributes and are deeply associated with themes of death, resurrection, and water. In Vanuatu, these drums are carved with the faces of ancestors, highlighting their role in honoring the deceased.12
• Protection and Housing: In New Guinea, large horizontal slit drums are considered so significant that they are housed in specialized roofed structures to protect them from the elements.2

While these instruments are found throughout much of Oceania, they are notably absent in Australia.3