Big Drum is a genre, a musical instrument, and traditional African religion from the Windward Islands. It is a kind of Caribbean music, associated mostly closely with the music of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Music of Guadeloupe, Carriacou in Grenada and in the music of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Origin All big drum celebration is accompanied by the boula drum. The word boula can refer to at least four different drums played in the Caribbean music area. The Guadeloupean boula is a hand drum, similar to the tambou bèlè, and is used in gwo ka and special occasions likes wakes, wrestling matches and Carnival celebrations. It is a hand drum that plays low-pitched sounds and is played single-handed and transversally. The boula of Carriacou is also a hand drum, now most often made of rum casks. It is also called the tambou dibas, and is used in the Big Drum tradition. The boula of Trinidad and Tobago accompanies the stick-fighting dance called kalenda, and is a double-headed barrel drum, played open-handed. Carriacou The inhabitants of Carriacou perform the "Big Drum", "Gwa Tambu", or "Nation" dance to celebrate their West African ancestors that were brought to the island during slavery. These Big Drum dances are usually performed at "Maroons", also known as village festivals held in spring to call for rain, and fetes, where food and drink are prepared. They can also be danced at wakes and tombstone feasts in honor of dead relatives to lay them to rest, marriage ceremonies, fishing boat launchings, and in the case of ill-health or ill-fortune. On each occasion, the main focus is twofold: remembering lineage and respecting ancestors. The music consists of singing and chanting typically joined by two boula drums and one cutter drum, named Mama, Papa, and Baby, respectfully, as well as shakers and maracas. This religious tradition used to be practiced in Grenada as well, but was erased by the Yoruba's religious presence on the larger island. While food is prepared during the day in large pots over fire, the actual Big Drum Dance ceremony starts at night. Libations of rum and water, known as "wetting of the ground", are made during the day. This is done to ask for the blessings of the gods and ancestors, and serves as an invitation for them to enter "the dance ring" and join the dance. There is no priest, but instead a