The word "takoba" is spelled phonetically as /təˈkɒbə/. The initial "t" is pronounced with a short "u" sound, followed by a stressed "a" and a soft "k" sound. The letter "o" is pronounced with a short "ə" sound, followed by a soft "b" and a final "a" sound with a light stress. Although the meaning of the word is unknown, the pronunciation is often used in West African music to denote a specific type of drum.