The body of drum is carved with incised and relief patterns which include anthropomorphic figures and stylised animal or admired for various characteristics; flying foxes, pigs’ tusks and anthropomorphic figures. The handle is reminiscent of the Asmat bisj poles which are large carvings created for funerary ceremonies, or the figures here may in fact represent the ancestors.

According to the donor the drumhead was of lizard skin however when he sent it off to be secured, the drum was returned with a goat’s skin membrane instead.