Asive
Lata.

iGubu (dissambeled) by Asive Lata

 

This disassembled Xhosa drum sculpture, crafted from e-waste, explores the intersection of ancient spirituality and modern technology. Traditionally, the Xhosa drum symbolizes community and vibrancy, used in rituals to communicate with ancestors, evoke healing, and foster spiritual connection through rhythm. When played, the drum is placed horizontally, and its beats breathe life into rituals and gatherings. 

 

In this piece, the drum’s materials metal ring, skin and rope are replaced by remnants of discarded technology: circuit boards, wires, and electronic

devices.

 

By reimagining the drum with e-waste, I reflect on the interconnectedness of sound, energy, and the unseen forces that shape our world. Electricity, like the rhythmic beats of the drum, pulses with life and the power to connect.

 

The sound waves once generated by traditional drums now find their counterpart in the frequencies of the digital age through internet signals, radio waves, and global networks.

 

This sculpture invites contemplation on how sacred objects transform in the digital era.

 

The Xhosa drum, once a vessel for summoning spiritual forces and bringing vibrancy to life, now holds within it the unseen energy of electricity a potent force that drives modern communication. 

 

As the drum once bridged the physical and spiritual realms, the internet now links us across borders and time zones, forming a new communal rhythm.

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Through this work, I explore the evolving relationship between sound and technology, tradition and innovation. Whether spiritual or electrical, energy continues to bind us to one another and to forces greater than ourselves. Though fragmented, this e-waste drum reimagines the drum as a vessel of both ancient and modern connectivity.