THE RHYTHM OF A PARTICULAR AFRICAN DRUM

Hi there everyone!
Greetings from Johannesburg, South Africa on this early Autumn day!

Thank you to all my commentators for your wonderful, enlightening comments yesterday!
It was so interesting reading them all and being transported down memory lane with the artifacts which are lying around your homes.  It seems that we have a lot more in common than I initially thought!

I would like to continue the
ARTIFACTS THEME...

...and today I'd like to share a little story ...

I have always been enthralled with the amazing rhythm one finds in Africa - especially amongst indigenous cultures. Music is intrinsic to Africa and our artists are known for their unique sense of rhythm.

I remember the cool, starry evenings of my childhood in the African bush of my childhood farm, sitting and quietly listening to the music of the night - distant drums of welcome to the gatherings of indigenous groups mingled with crickets and nightjars.

The sounds of that era are etched into my soul.
I particularly loved the rhythm of indigenous African drumming...
The drummer beat his own stories, energised with the passion of his music.

As a result, I searched for years and years for a particular African drum. I had my own parameters for this purchase. I didn't want a "touristy" one, but rather one that had the deep tone which I remember from those solitary evenings. I didn't mind what it looked like so long as the tone spoke to me.

My search took years but I was eventually rewarded...

Whilst on holiday near the Kruger National Park one year, my husband and I stopped by a roadside stall. I admit it was a 'tourist hive', but we'd stopped for lunch and I couldn't resist scouting around to see what we, as South Africans, were offering our visitors.

Well there, in a dusty corner, behind a lot of things, stood a drum. It really had become lost amidst the offerings of the store but I stood and stared and silently felt that my dream was about to be answered.  

A weary shop assistant walked up to me...

"Please may I try your drum?", I tentatively asked.

It took two people to relieve it from its bondage and they stood it before me.

My hands lifted into the air (...old habits die hard ) and I beat out its stagnant sound.
It resounded into life...

(This drum can be played whilst standing up or lying it on the floor and straddling it)

What beauty to my ears!

It's resonance spoke of ages gone by!

It's feel told the story of the animal skin which had given it its life!

It was perfect!
They told me that it had been scuptured in central Africa somewhere and had stood there for ages.
Yes, it was perfect but it was HUGE!

We had been travelling in a small car brimmed with our holiday luggage.

How on earth were we going to transport my prize across the 600km home to Johannesburg?

I thought for a while and then said to the shop assistant.

"If by some magic we can fit this drum into our boot, then I will take it! If it doesn't fit, then sadly I will have to leave it behind!"

Soon there was a possy of people buzzing around our vehicle.  All had the goal of emptying our luggage and repacking it to make space for my drum. Our items were strewn over that dusty carpark.

It took an hour's work, but we finally squeezed it in!

I must admit, it was a long, uncomfortable journey home, but it was worth it!

The top of the drum is covered in an animal skin - stretched out to provide the correct tension.

 It has been well played over time and ironically...

if you look carefully at is playing surface you can see the outline of Africa...

Well the African Drum found its home in urban Johannesburg!

AND...

You will hear it every New Year's eve in the countdown of the clock!

Any of you have any 'unique' musical instruments lurking?

Lotsaluv