Wa ethnic wooden drum

Called "grōg" in the Wa ethnic language, the wooden drum is a popular percussion musical instrument of the Wa ethnic group. As a symbol of the Wa ethnic culture, patterns of wooden drums are found in the Cangyuan cliff paintings that are as old as 3,000 years.

Most Wa ethnic villages have wooden drums--and special drum houses. These drums are not beaten at random; they are normally played at festivals and celebrations, and used to signal warning when tussles break out between tribes. Wooden drums are also religious instruments so they are also regarded "sacred tools" by Wa people.