The Babadok is a traditional percussion instrument of Timor-Leste, central to the soundscape of communal dance, ritual, and celebration. With its deep, resonant rhythm, the babadok doesn’t just keep time—it sets the emotional pulse of an event, weaving together the steps of dancers, the cadence of songs, and the energy of the gathered community.\n\nTypically made from a hollowed-out log or wooden tube covered at both ends with animal skin—often goat or cowhide—the babadok is lightweight and portable. Struck with the hands or sometimes with short wooden sticks, it produces a sharp, dry beat that is both grounding and expressive. The drumheads are stretched tightly and tied securely with natural fiber ropes, sometimes decorated with paint or carved patterns. Over time, each instrument develops its own distinct tone, shaped by use, climate, and craftsmanship.\n\nIn traditional ceremonies, particularly dances like tebe-tebe or tebe-lilin, the babadok is the heartbeat of the performance. It provides tempo, signals changes in movement, and helps dancers synchronize their steps. More than a musical tool, the babadok becomes a channel through which emotions—joy, sorrow, gratitude—are communicated and shared. During ritual gatherings, it may accompany singing, recitation of oral histories, or moments of spiritual invocation.\n\nThe instrument is most often played by women, though in some regions both men and women participate. Its accessibility is part of its charm—anyone with rhythm, respect, and a sense of the tradition can learn to play. Children often grow up hearing the babadok played at family ceremonies or village festivals, absorbing its patterns and rhythms before they ever try it themselves.\n\nCrafting a babadok is itself an act of cultural care. The choice of wood, the drying and stretching of the skins, and the tying of the drum all follow methods passed down through generations. Elders often guide young artisans in this process, emphasizing not just the technique but the responsibility that comes with creating something used in sacred and social spaces.\n\nDespite its enduring importance, the babadok—like many traditional instruments—faces challenges in modern times. Mass-produced drums and changing musical preferences mean that fewer young people are learning to make or play it. Still, efforts are being made to preserve the tradition, with community performances, school programs, and cultural events placing the instrument back at the center of public life.\n\nIn the rhythm of the babadok, one can hear more than music: it is the sound of continuity, of people moving together, of ancestors remembered and futures imagined. Whether echoing across a dusty dance circle or softly beating in a sacred house, the babadok remains a powerful symbol of Timor-Leste’s living heritage.

The body of harp is made of Ya-Ma-Nay wood. The wood is into shape of crocodile before it is completely dry after being smeared with mud for several months. The top of the resonator body is tightly stretched with a deer or goat skin with small sound holes. The sound box is embellished in Mon traditional decoration. The crocodile's tail-shaped neck endpiece of harp is decorated with Hin-tha bird. The tuning pegs are fixed along the neck. The strings are made of silk or cotton or nylon. The strings are tuned in traditional way. It is played in similar way of playing Myanmar traditional harp. Today, the number of strings have been increased to 15 to 16 in order to add the additional notes.\n-39 inches in length\n-29.75 inches in height\n-7.5 inches in body height

By using Rakhine Royal Drum was found at the period of Visali of the king of Chandra. At the time of king Chandra, the lyrical ode of the crown-princess Saw Pyae Nyo was played with the various kinds of instruments. Long-drum and Than-Lwin-drum contained in this instruments.In the Myanmar era of 897 ( 1535 AD) when was called Lay Myoe Age, King Min Bar built Yan Aung Zaya Chittaung stupa with a vaulted vase. Rakhine oil lamp dance, Shawl dance, Powewar dance, the sports of Mrauk.U period such as the posture of wrestling, boxing, the stick martial art and the figures in the posture of playing the Rakhine musical instruments such as the Rakhine Duelong Harp, bamboo pipes wind instrument, melodious small drum, hand-cymbals, cymbals၊ horn, long drum, Marlakhon fiddle, the bugle , the cymbal and the flute were sculpted as the ancient supporting evidences of Rakhine long drum on the western wall of the second tunnel of Shittaung pagoda.. Rakhine nationality mostly used long-drum. According to the ceremony, the drum which is used to celebrate pagoda festival is called Mu-Yoe Drum. Pan-taja drum is used for the wedding ceremony and the ceremony of propitiate nats. Khat- Ttin drum is used for the funeral ceremony . Si- Byaw( kind of long drum ) is used to play the novitiated ceremony. One- headed drum is used for ceremony of pulling gharry. Kyin-drum is used for the posture of wrestling. There are fourteen kinds of Rakhine drum. They are Mhyaut drum, Than-Lwin drum, Mu-Yoe drum ( Si-Pyaw ), Singal-headed small drum, Big drum (Shan si) , Donmin drum , Si Pataung drum, Si wun drum , Melodious small drum, One-headed drum, Pan:taya: si drum, Pat Si drum (Kyin si), Si chay drum, Si ai drum. According to the song, it can be played with hands. The song which produces the sound of Byane from cow skin and the sound of harp from goat skin. It can be played not only hand but also stick. Rakhine royal drum is played together with cymbals, gong, jingle bell and conch-shell.\nPadauk wood is used to make the body of Rakhine royal drum and the either sides of two drumheads are covered with cow-skin and goatskin. The Padauk wood has to made hollow and the either side of cow skin and goat skin are tightly stretched on the drum heads. Both two drumheads can be played. The leather must be tightly tied with the string of gunny twine.\n-2 feet 3 inches in Length\n-3 feet 5 inches in the girth\n-1 feet in the diameter of drumhead (site of cow skin)\n-11 inches in the diameter of drumhead ( site of goat skin)