The drums are assembled without any metal parts, the playing heads are goat skin, the tension straps are durable cowhide.

[10][11] The drum dates back roughly 500 years, and is believed to have been introduced by a Yoruba king named Shangó el rey del tambor.

Batá drums and rhythms began to be used in other genres, most notably in Cuban timba, jazz and hip hop.

Skilled secular musicians such as Julito Collazo made appearances in the United States throughout the twentieth century, helping to spread use of the drum in Latin music.

Also traditionally in Cuba, in Havana the batá are rarely played after sundown, while in Matanzas toque ceremonies often begin at night.

These seemingly conflicting points of view remain paradoxical within the musical "landscape", as has been the global evolution of the Indian Tabla, both families of percussion instruments finding application in often surprisingly diverse musical settings far from their roots, although batá perhaps having a closer religious affinity with Lukumí than tabla with Hinduism.

Those who practise Lukumí believe that certain sacred rhythms performed on the batá contain the levels of spiritual forces required to allow such impassioned ritual music to summon Orishas, who in turn inhabit or possess (more in the sense of angelic rather than demonic possession) one or more of the followers gathered for worship and/or participating in the ritual.

Followers of Lukumí believe that Orishas are responsible for control of all natural and life-related forces, however the most-frequently stated primary purpose of the batá is simply for glorification of the deified Changó, also known as "The Great Spirit" or less ceremoniously as thunder and lightning.

[16] Vicky Jassey explains that religious beliefs concerning menstruation are central to the taboo restricting women from coming into contact with consecrated bata drums.

Most sworn ritual drummers believe that both women and the Añá deity who resides in the drum will be harmed if they make contact with each other.

Moreover, men are required to abstain from sex with a woman the night before a ceremony because this "contamination" is believed to harm the consecrated drums.

In addition, Gay men are also restricted from contact with the drum, though the reason is unclear and equally does not appear to stem from religious beliefs.

[19] Eva Despaigne, the founder of the group, and the other members insisted that they do not intend to compete with men or disrespect religious tradition.