are red, black, and white, but logo variants among the groups as well as drum skins sometimes include green and yellow reflecting the Brazilian national flag. Batala groups use drums, beaters, belts, T-shirts, and costumes that are designed and manufactured in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. The costumes, which change every year, are designed and manufactured at Instituto Oya and Fabrica Batala in Salvador de Bahia. Individual groups design and print their own T-shirts for fans and members using the band logo and their own designs. Instruments Batala members play four different drums: Surdos 1 and 2, Surdo 3 (referred to as Dobra), Repinique, and Snare (referred to as Caixa). The biggest Surdo, called Primero or 1, plays on beats 1 & 3 and sets the tempo for the band. The Surdo 2, called Segundo or Reposta, is slightly smaller and plays on beats 2 and 4. Together these two drums are called Marcaçao - meaning "marking" as in "marking time" - because they mark the beat. Surdo 1 and 2 are worn around the waist and played with large-headed mallets. The third or "small" Surdo plays the samba reggae "off beat" and other syncopated rhythms. Called the Dobra in Batala, this drum cuts in between the beats of the two larger drums with more complex rhythms and leads the dancing movements in the band. The Dobra is worn around the waist and played with medium-headed beaters. The Repinique is a much smaller drum with a high-pitched, metallic tone that makes calls to the other drums and cues musical changes during songs. The Repinique is worn low around the waist and played with a pair of flexible plastic sticks. The final drum, the Caixa, is referred to as the engine of the band because it keeps the music running by maintaining a constant rhythm under the beats of the other drums. It is similar to a common snare drum. The Caixa is worn around the waist and played with a set of standard wooden drum sticks. Membership With the exception of the groups in Brasília; Mendoza, Argentina; Washington D.C.; and New York City, which are women-only, worldwide Batala groups are open to individuals of all races, genders, sexualities and religions, regardless of their musical backgrounds or drumming experience. Prospective members generally contact group leaders to find out about rehearsal times and dates in order to join the band. Because all of