The Pātē is a Samoan percussion instrument that originated in Tahiti. Its name comes from the Samoan word for "beat," "clap," or "pulse." It is one of several types of Samoan log drums and belongs to the slit drum family, which is also part of the idiophone percussion family. The Pātē is made from a hollowed-out log, often from Miro wood, and produces a loud, clear sound. The size of the log drum affects the pitch and volume, and the way it is struck—either in the middle or near the ends—also changes the sound.

Talipalau drums are a Samoan type of log drum that are larger than the Pātē but smaller than the Lali log drum. Some Talipalau drums can be as tall as 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) and as long as 3 meters (9.8 feet). These drums are related to the larger Fijian Lali drums. The smaller Pātē was brought to Samoa by Tahitian people who married into Samoan families and settled there about 500 years ago. Today, the Pātē is often played with other traditional log drums and the Samoan fala drum as part of musical performances. Because Samoan music has spread widely through Polynesian culture, the Pātē is now used in many neighboring islands, including Uvea, Futuna, Tokelau, Tuvalu, and Niue.

There are five main types of Samoan wooden slit drums.

Tahitian warriors taught the Samoan and Cook Islands people how to make and play the wooden log Pātē drum. In Rarotonga, this tradition has become deeply connected to spiritual practices that are still important in Cook Islands drumming today.

In Samoa, log drums have been used for centuries to send messages over long distances during times of war and to signal important events, such as Sa (a time of peace), Chief meetings, and Village gatherings. They are also used in traditional songs and dances.

In Tahiti, drumming and dancing are now often used for entertainment and tourism. For example, in French Polynesia, the annual Heiva i Tahiti festival allows different tribes and island groups to compete in dance and drumming contests.

Construction Process

A piece of a hardwood tree trunk or thick branch is selected, and its bark is removed. Holes are then drilled in a straight line from one end of the log to the other, with space left at the ends if needed. The material between the holes is carefully removed using a chisel, creating a slit. Next, the log is hollowed out through this slit. The shape of the slit and how much the log is hollowed will influence the sound and pitch of the pate.