鼓，是許多人對非洲的第一印象，是非洲樂器與音樂世界裡很重要的組成部分，亦是非洲文化的表徵之ㄧ。非洲的鼓，不只是一種樂器，不只是音樂表達的一種工具，它還蘊含著非洲傳統社會裡豐富的生命禮儀內容與功能意涵，特別在許多宗教和政治性儀式當中扮演不可或缺的角色，也使用以伴隨舞蹈、調節工作步調節奏等功能；此外，非洲的鼓有使用以作為話語表達，甚至遠距離傳遞語言性訊息的用途，如「說話鼓」。
說話鼓是此種功能性樂器的學名和通稱，可發現散佈於非洲大陸許多民族文化當中，因著各民族傳統文化和當地語言的不同而有不同的鼓類型制與樂器名稱，也因著各民族傳統風俗的不同而有多樣的語言性功能。
為什麼鼓類膜鳴樂器會說話？是什麼樣的語言特性使得鼓語聲響可以置換話語音調？此篇論文將以非洲地區的說話鼓為案例，探究說話鼓在非洲普遍民族文化下的樂器類型、其所屬之音樂性和語言性功能，以及其語言特性所導致賦予之從音樂性功能轉變為通向語言性功能的過程。

Many languages of Sub-Saharan Africa are tonal languages and many linguistic and ethnomusicological experts have made the link between tonal languages and pitch and rhythm in ‘drum music’. In sub-Saharan Africa where such languages are spoken musical instruments, especially talking drums, were used to mimic the pattern of speech to ‘talk out’ the knowledge, proverbs and communicateeven long distances.
Talking drums, much as the same way telephones, faxes or e-mails are used in order for people to stay in touch, were an active method of communication between peoples in West and Central Africa and other parts of the continent.
Talking drums which have each end covered in animal hide are usually carved out of hard wood. Along the outside of the drum between each end run several strings that can be squeezed by the drummer to change the pitch of the tune. This change in pitch is the equivalent to the change in tone of the language that was being spoken which meant that the communication was extremely sophisticated.
Talking drums were a very open mode of communication. In order to be able to send out messages that only the intended receiver would understand - master drummers encoded false meanings into some of the common phrases they used.
Tonal languages are very well suited to this purpose because a word that is spelt exactly the same way using the latin alphabet has two completely different meanings depending on the tone that is being used. So you can see how with a little ingenuity the meaning of a message can be completely changed.