FROM THE SUITCASE--Oliha Yiwama

Africa! Yes, you probably have surmised it already, it is the birthplace of music. Feet stomping. Hands clapping. Voices heralding both physical and spiritual sounds. And the mulitdue of instruments, marimbas, balofons, flutes, koras, horns, and, of course, drums.

Drums are a universal symbol of Africa. Even the youngest of children associate drums with Africa, as well as they should. Africa has a variety of drums. They can often mimic the languages of many ethnic groups, if the language is tonal.

Nowhere else is this more evident than in Nigeria. In traditional Nigerian groups, drums are played in a ensemble. The ensemble is arranged around the concept of the family: there is a mama drum, a papa drum and a baby drum. The mama drum is usually the biggest drum and has the deepest tone. The papa drum has a higher tone than the mama drum, but is lower than the baby drum, which has the highest of the tones. Each drum is regulated to a particular rhythym, and the entire ensemble is played in a call-and-response manner.

Similar to real life, the mama drum makes the call to the papa and baby drums, and the they must respond to the mama drum with the appropriate rhytym.

The call and response method evolved into many aspects of drumming. One of the most prominent examples is that of Yoruba drumming. Yoruba drumming can be categorized as sacred and secular, for the sake of convenience. However, even in the latter, the feeling of sacred is always lurking in the background.

In Yoruba Orisa worship, the drums are played to invoke different deities. Sacred rhythyms are played to invoke the Orisa on a certain frequency or energy field. It is believed that each Orisa has his or hers own frequency. Once the drummers have reached that energy field through music, the Orisa is brought down to the congregation of worshippers through trance possession. The person possessed then becomes the vehicle of the Orisa. The Orisa speaks of predictions for many of the initiates, while the rhythymic drums are playing.

One of the reasons that drummers are held in such high regard is for that ability. Yoruba drummers usually accomplish this task through the sacred bata drums. The bata drums are played in threes and consist of the iya, baba, and omo drums. The head drummer is called the Olubata, and plays the Iya drum that calls out to the other family members. Through these drums, additional worshipping is accomplished through dancing and singing.

In Africa, drummers are held in high regard for the many services they provide. From sacred to secular situations, drummers provide inspiration. Drummers call the many deities to the initiates, provide announcements and provide entertainment.

Saminaka will be holding an African Festival from Oct 1-4 and will include music that will heavily emphasize drumming. Saminaka wil also provide drumming circles in the near future for those who wish to experience the African drum and participate in a virtual world.