hink of the loudest concert you have ever been to and then take away the guitars, the bass and any other accompanying instruments. That leaves you with the drums and the lead singer. Now crank that up to a crescendo that alters the natural rhythm of your heart and you will barely be close to the power of the Drummers of West Africa, who will be performing in Mandeville Auditorium on Oct. 5.
Feel the rhythm: The Drummers of West Africa will bring a troupe of 35 drummers, including 20 women, to Mandeville on Oct. 5, 2003.
The Drummers of West Africa hail from Senegal, a country roughly the size of South Dakota, located on the Ivory Coast of West Africa. It is a tropical country and has long had a reputation as an international peacekeeping nation. Centuries ago the art of drumming was used by the Senegalese people as means of communication as one village would convey the threat of a fire, for example, to a neighboring town by using their drums. Today drumming is taught and practiced as a way to maintain Senegalese cultural heritage.
The 35-member Drummers of West Africa is led by the 74-year-old Doudou N’diaye Rose, a national celebrity in his native Senegal. Rose began drumming at 16, much to the chagrin of his accountant father. In addition to being the leader of the world famous Drummers of West Africa, Rose has also participated in the Senegalese National Ballet as a percussionist and helped develop the rhythm of the Senegalese national hymn. Over the course of the years Rose’s skills as a percussionist have become world renowned, and he has become an unofficial cultural ambassador to Senegal.
“”He is an incredible person,”” said the Drummers’ tour manager Stephan Brunet when asked about Rose. “”He is very old, but on stage he is like a young boy.”” Brunet further added that Rose is “”short and tiny, but when he is behind his drums he looks like a monster.””
All the members of the Drummers of West Africa are related to Rose, the youngest being a 16-year-old who has already mastered the ancient language of the drums. The 20 women of the troupe are following a tradition started by Rose who decided that women should also be drummers, a talent previously only held by Senegalese men.
In addition to introducing their audiences to the ancient rhythms of Senegal, the Drummers also wear traditional costumes and perform barefoot. Singing is also incorporated into the performance pieces but the central components are always the drums. The Drummers use the traditional saber, a tall drum covered in goat skin which is played with one hand and a stick made from wood called soumpe that is only found in Senegal. The Drummers are so ferocious with their performances that they are known for breaking drumsticks and ripping drum skins during their shows.
One piece from the Drummers repertoire that promises to be especially exhilarating is “”Sabar,”” which capitalizes on the precision of the troupe and their ability to follow Rose’s directions amidst the roar of the drums.
“”This part is the most powerful of the show,”” said Brunet. “”Mr. Rose is in the middle of the stage and he directs so fast [that] everything changes in half a second or less. It is very loud.””
In Senegal, the Drummers have been known to perform for upwards of six hours, however, the performance on Oct. 5 will only be one hour and 30 minutes, barely enough to fully appreciate the art and power of the Senegalese drumming.
“”In an hour and a half you go deeply into the African culture,”” said Brunet. “”The time passes quickly.””
The strength of the Drummers can be previewed on their CD Djabote, which will also be sold after the show. The Drummers of West Africa will perform on Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Mandeville Auditorium. Tickets for students are $15, general admission is $23.
