These articles are written by Members of AFSANI to share with you their views on various topics concerning Akan culture and spirituality. The topics will include those aspects of the culture and spirituality which had a great or the greatest impact in their everyday lifestyles (hair, attire, names, family, etc.). Therefore, there is no right or wrong answers to the questions or comments which you might have since these are very personal experiences and perspectives on the topics of their choice. We encourage you to visit this page often as it will change as members write their stories. Enjoy the page and leave us your comment.

DRUMMING…A CONNECTION TO SPIRIT
BY: Okomfowaa Kofi Botwe Kyerematin
(a.k.a Malandala Zulu)

Drumming is a connection to the inner spirit of yourself and those who hear it. It helps you to truly get in touch with yourself. As I drummer, it helps me to relax and feel the energy from the drum. When I drum, it helps me to relieve stress and also focus on certain things in my life.

I have been drumming for 22 years. I started drumming for fun at an early age. As I grew older, I learned more. I did not just play for fun; I became more focused and took my drum training very seriously. My first lessons were at Ujamma Shule, which is the oldest Independent Afrikan school in Washington, DC. While I was a student and it still remains true today, the curriculm at Ujamma included drumming for the boys and Afrikan dance for the girls. I learned from many different teachers. In particular, I want to mention one great man and who is well-known in the Metropolitan D.C. area my first teacher: Baba Ngoma. Baba Ngoma is a Master Drummer who taught me many important lessons such as style, rhythm and form.

Drumming and your Inner Spirit

As I grew older, I felt the power and the importance of drumming. I began to learn that I was not just drumming to be drumming but for my spirit. Drumming helped to heal others and myself. I became versatile enough to be able to drum on many types of drums.

My experience of drumming on Senegalese drums, Djembes and Djun Djun led to a heightened sense of excitement and spirituality. I became involved in Afrikan Dance groups where I was able to perform and closely watch the effect that drums had on other people. I already knew the effect that drums gave me. However, it was exciting to see how people reacted to the drums. There is a powerful connection between drummer and dancer. The dancers feed off of the energy of the drum. The sound and rhythms of the drum get deep down into the spirit of the dancer and allows them to move and dance. The body is almost controlled by the drum.

My experience of drumming in Dance Troupes and Akoms led me to a greater spiritual path other than just drumming. The drumming led me to fully connect with my inner spirit allowing me to clearly see and understand my calling here on earth. I have heard many teachers say, and I always remind myself and others that, we are spiritual beings living a human experience. My human experience of my love for drumming led me to my spiritual self. Sometimes as I am drumming, I feel the energy flowing through my blood and the very essence of my mind, body and soul. I have learned in my travels that no matter what part of the world I go to play a drum that the feeling is and will always be the same. No matter what type of drum its is, the experience is always the same. The drum led me to my inner spirit.

Drumming is a way to feel free to do what you want to do. It allows your energy and the drum's energy to connect and form something that you must experience for yourself to fully understand. Drumming for me is that doorway that allows one to create. The way you hit the drum and the way you play the drum can feed into your different emotions and feelings. Sometimes if you need some energy boost, you will play an upbeat and fast rhythm. If you want to relax and mellow out, then you will play something slow. Drumming can cause and affect many kinds of feelings.

Drumming for the AKOM (Ancient Akan Religious Ceremony)

Drumming at the Akom le me to the next level. There are many times when I am playing the drums at Akoms and I begin to go in an almost trance state. I will have the drum in between my legs playing and the next thing I know my legs are shaking as though they cannot stop. The only way to stop is to stop drumming. The connection from the drumming triggered an effect in me that helped to move me to the next level of my spiritual path. It encouraged me to become an Okomfo (Traditional Akan Priest).

Drumming in the Akan tradition, there are drums for all occasions. There are drums for weddings, Akoms, funerals, naming ceremonies and other events. There are also different kinds of drums. In Akom ceremonies there are three main drums used. One is the Petia and the other two are aprede and aprenting. These drums are joined by the bells, which are played with sticks. These bells are called Dawaro. The Donno and Brekete are also played. All of the drums are made from wood and animal skin for the head. Rope and pegs hold down the head to the carved hollow wood. These are the main drums played. The Frontufrom drums are twin drums played together side by side. These are very large in size compared to the basic Akom drums. They are used in Akoms and also very special occasions. They are used to call the ancestors and the gods. Words are spoken through these drums. You must be trained to understand how to make the drums speak.

The Aprenting is a very low-pitched drum. This drum like most of them can be played with hands or sticks. Usually it is played with the hands. The Petia is the lead drum. This drum is mostly played with the hands. This drum does have high pitch sound and is improvisation (known as improv). Improv means that this drum plays not only one beat but many beats. The Akorber is the middle pitched drum. It is played with the hands. The Aprede is the smallest drum and has the highest pitch. This drum is played with long sticks. This drum can be played with many techniques. It is sometimes played in repetitive rhythms and able to complement rhythms simultaneously. The Donno is a double-headed, hour glass shaped drum. This drum varies in sizes. It is played with one hooked stick. The drum is held under the left are while the right hand strikes the middle of the drum with the stick. As you squeeze the strings, which connect the heads on both sides, you get different pitches high and low. The Brekete is another two-headed drum, which is very low pitched. This drum is held like the Donno and is held in the left hand and the stick in right hand is used to make sounds. This drum like many other drums improv on its pattern.

The Mpomporo are clapping sticks. These are two heavy bamboo sticks cut into pieces. These are usually played by the singers. They keep a steady beat while singing, keeping the tone and the pace for the rest of the ensemble. Other instruments used in the Akoms are the Adase or Malakas. These are two hollow gourds filled with seeds or small stones shaken to produce many different rattling sounds. These percussion instruments are usually played in concert with the drumming and dancers. The dancers dance on and off the different beats. There are many ways to strike the drums to get endless possibilities of sounds. These Akom instruments are very special to the ceremony. They are sacred and usually have Shrine medicine on them or inside. This medicine reinforces the energy and the power of the drum.

During my travels in Ghana, I have learned and seen many drummers. I have seen drummers play for hours and hours straight at a time. The drummers are usually given stimulants such liquor, beer, kola nuts as they drum. This is fuel to them to help them maintain the tremendous energy that it takes for continuous drumming which is heightened by the energy that the Abosom brings. Not all drummers drink alcohol. Some prefer soft drinks or water. It does take practice to play these drums. The Deities like the sound of the drums. The drums are what calls them. Certain Deities love the sound of certain drums. For example, Nana Esi Ketewaa loves the Donno drum. The sound makes here feel good. There is a noticeable change in her face and movement when she hears the Donno. Tegare loves the upbeat high life sounds form the drum. Nana Adadi Kofi loves fast upbeat sounds from the drum because he dances fast.

The specific style of drumming that is done at Akoms is not that different from other drumming styles and techniques. Fast drumming gets fast movement and slow drumming gets slower movement. It is the purpose or intention and the atmosphere that changes the drumming.

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Okomfowaa Kofi Botwe teaches drumming to individuals, groups and organizations. In order to discuss these possibilities and associated fees, please email us with your name, telephone number and the best time to call you. Medase!

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