War Drum

War Drum
Item Information
Na'vi Name	Tsamau?
Size	3 meters in height, 4 meters in diameter
Used by	Na'vi
Usage	Accompaniment to pre-battle ritual dance, warning signals
Weight	Roughly 75 kilograms
Behind the Scenes
First Appearance	James Cameron's Avatar: An Activist Survival Guide

The war drum (Na'vi name: tsamau) is a musical instrument used in ritual dances and for making warning signals by the Na'vi.

Description

The different warning rhythms played on it are associated with specific dangers to the Na'vi and are used to signal for help. Because of its association with danger, the drum is also used to accompany ritual prebattle dances.

Some of the warning rhythms played on the drum represent different dangers; other rhythms indicate the direction from which the danger approaches. One rhythm is played when a Na'vi is in mortal danger and in need for help. Na'vi children learn the different signals from an early age.

The more recent incursions by humans necessitated the addition of another warning rhythm. It is theorized that the warning rhythm for humans is based on the Na'vi word skx'awng, highly derogatory term that is more or less analogous to "moron", or "one who does not see."

Materials and Construction

The structure is made of branches, covered on both sides with tanned hexapede hides, filled with water, and the beating stick is made from a smoothed branch the size of a Terran baseball bat.

Role in the Avatar Universe

After gathering the clans for the battle against the RDA you can see the drums of war.

One of the unused scenes in the film shows the night before the Battle of the Soul Tree, when the Omatikaya Clan set up a pre-war camp. Among the many musicians who play, among others the Blue Flute, the Pendulum Drums and the Log Drums, there are also Na'vi playing War Drums.

Source

James Cameron's Avatar: An Activist Survival Guide pg. 46-47