Aje late 19th century Micronesian (Marshall Islands) In the past drums were extremely rare in Micronesia (the islands of the tropical northwestern Pacific) and were made only in the eastern Caroline Islands, the Micronesian outliers of Wuvulu and Aua, and the Marshall Islands. With its clean lines, graceful form, and lack of surface ornamentation this example from the Marshall Islands embodies the spare, minimalist aesthetic and emphasis on form characteristic of Micronesian art. In contrast to many areas of the Pacific, where drumming is often a wholly or primarily male activity, drums in the Marshall Islands formerly were used almost exclusively by women. Marshallese drums, known as aje, were played as part of ensembles of female singers and drummers, who accompanied men's dances as well as dramatic song and dance performances similar in some respects to Western opera. Among the most important of these was the jebwa, a dance in which men carry staffs, which are struck together period