The beat of a drum: a sound that has held people together for centuries past and will continue to do so for centuries to come.
On Tuesday afternoon, several members of WASA, (Wyoming African Students Association) showed off their awesome drum skills with a lively performance while the ladies from the Belly Dancing Club danced along in celebration of African Awareness week.
Being that February is black history month, and one week in the month is designated to the continent of Africa. During this week, students get a taste of traditional African food, dance and culture.
While it is known that Africans and African Americans have two very distinct cultures; a huge part of both cultures is music, more specifically the drum.
The drum, which is known as the oldest instrument in the world, has its place in many societies worldwide. However, the sacred love and use for the instrument is unprecedented in African cultures.
The role of the drum in Africa differs from Western culture in that it is much more than a ”simple” instrument used purely for musical enhancement in entertainment. In much of Africa, certain drums were used to protect royalty and were commonly housed in sacred dwellings. It not only symbolizes Africa’s origins but today the drum has evolved to become a symbol of Africa itself.
The drum was also originally used for communication in Sub-Sahara Africa; some call it “the original telephone” because it is believed to be the earliest form of long distance communication
Africa has countless different types of drums, many of which were displayed and played during the performance. These drums range from taller drums that have a higher pitch to wider drums that have a lower pitch and add to the bass.
The most common drum in Africa is known as the djembe. The djembe is a rope-tuned skin-covered drum. This drum is originally from West Africa and is usually played with bare hands. The name djembe comes from a West African saying that translates to “everyone gathers together in peace” and both defines and outlines the drum’s purpose. This type of drum was used during the performance, and today this drum is played throughout much of the world.
Historically, drums in Africa have been used as an accompaniment for special occasions and ceremonies, such as births, deaths and weddings. The drums are usually played together with a ceremonial dance. When the drums are played during these ceremonies, the vicious sound of the community pounding them would provoke strong emotions. This is one of the reasons why in African culture, the drum has historically been a necessary installment when preparing for war. The beating of the drum would stir up emotions of excitement and passion that would prepare the community for war.
These strong emotions were visible in both the audience and the performers the day of the show. While playing the drums the performers were very animated and when they began to play you could feel the energy in the room change for the better. When it was time for them to begin playing, they did not have an audience, but when they began to play people came from all over, and soon the Skylight Lounge was filled with people “gathering together in peace” as the West African saying goes.
