The technique is called hindewhu in the Aka language. By cupping the hands differently, changing the angle of the wrist and varying the force of the strike, a skilled water drummer can create a whole range of sounds - from deep bass booms to high-pitched splashing taps. It takes years of practice to control the water accurately enough to play proper rhythms.
Water drumming is traditionally performed by women and girls. It is often done for celebration or ceremony, and the whole community gathers on the riverbank to listen and sing along. The music is not written down anywhere - it is learned by watching, listening and joining in from a very young age.
Scientists who study acoustics (the science of sound) have been fascinated by BaAka water drumming. Water transmits sound differently from air - the vibrations spread outward in rings just like ripples, but the sound waves also travel downward into the water. Fish in the river can feel the beats from below while people on the bank hear them from above.
Water drumming connects the BaAka community to their rainforest home in a very physical way. The river is not just a source of water and food - it becomes a musical instrument. This reflects how deeply the BaAka understand and interact with the natural world around them.