The diwaka was one of the most special drums of the Gogodala people and was only beaten during the Aida and Gi Maiyata ceremonies. When not in use it was stored in the Aida sacred loft and, in former times, was kept out of sight from females and uninitiated males. The diwaka is never owned by an individual but is the property of the clan. Although it is generally accepted that these drums were mainly used for the Aida and Gi Maiyata ceremonies, some have also described their function as being used for the tribal call to war and maybe, for this reason, the drum is also known as the 'Bamu War Drum'.