Quick reply..
Some African languages are tonal (like Chinese) - very very roughly in these languages, the same "word" form said at a higher or lower pitch has different meanings. A little as if the word "dog" said in A meant dog, but said in G meant cat.
In these languages (to my knowledge mostly found on West / Central Africa) there are drums "tuned" to certain pitches that can quite effectively (in the hands of master drummers) "repaeat" words - string a bunch of these together and you even have a phrase.
Interestingly after the slave revolts of the early 19th century - drums and all forms of similar percussion were forbiddeen to slaves in the US. The only place this law did not apply was... New Orleans.
Sorry, too many Riojas to give a proper reply. I'll try again tomorrow.
Joel