MAUSIKI SCALES on the DRUM OURSTORICAL!

[Baba Ahmed]

sent via email 17 June 2005

"Since ancient times, music and dance have been used throughout Africa to welcome the arrival of a newborn, summon a village, invoke Ancestors and deities, celebrate marriage ceremonies and other healing and celebratory events. Music permeated every aspect of daily life in African societies from work to play.

The drum is central to African music and is considered a sacred instrument, as are its rhythms. During the Maafa, our Ancestors brought the sacred rhythms and music to the Americas. These sounds of Africa played a critical role in our resistance to and survival of the harsh social environment of American society that was inundated with white nationalist behaviors....

Throughout history we find documentation of incidents in which music was a catalyst for resistance.

After the Stono Rebellion (1739), Europeans declared that it was 'against the law' for African people to play the drum and other loud noisemakers, especially in large numbers. Drumming was replaced with handclapping, Juba Patting and the hambone. Makeshift drums were constructed using barrels and boxes. Shouting was often practiced in hush harbors (temporary places of worship usually located in wooded areas) while encircled by wet quilts hung from trees to keep the sound from reaching the ears of the enslavers. Pots and kettles were also used by putting them upside-down and tilting them to dampen the sound of shouting and keep it from traveling far.

These practices speak to the resiliance, creativity and vitality of the African spirit to persevere under extremely harsh conditions."

Mausiki Scales
"To Be An African Musician"

[Roarin1]

NAMASTE BaBa

Ancient Times.....

Somewhere in the summer month's of 1978, I recieved a "standing ovation"

at the Richleu Inn in Ontario Canada, for a DRUM Expression that

I executed, (graciously authorized and encouraged by MY then employer,

Colombus N. Bone, <Mr. BONES> an extermely talented, rennouned and

innovative entertainer whose chosen discipline and gift was as a "Black Clown,"

a TRUE testament to HIS DEVOTION to the positive development of little

Black Children------(HIS OWN WORDS,) and validated by ME....,) However,

I did'nt quite understand WHY I recieved such a reception in Canada, having called

attention to the fact that the snare drum that I played was as the "MOTHER,"

of AFRIKA, and that the tom-tom's that I played, were as the "voices" of

OUR Children of Afrika, and that the bass drum that I played, was as the

the voice of the "FATHER" (of AFRIKA,) and even though the several hundred people

present were predominately "Black," NONE truly HEARD the "message," therefore,

why applaud? Never mind, sometimes it don't make no difference how LOUD YOU

protest.....some of OUR FOLK just don't get it. (a treasured post BaBa....)

AMANI

ROARIN......

[Baba Ahmed]

Originally Posted by roarin1

NAMASTE BaBa

Ancient Times.....

Somewhere in the summer month's of 1978, I recieved a "standing ovation"

at the Richleu Inn in Ontario Canada, for a DRUM Expression that

I executed, (graciously authorized and encouraged by MY then employer,

Colombus N. Bone, <Mr. BONES> an extermely talented, rennouned and

innovative entertainer whose chosen discipline and gift was as a "Black Clown,"

a TRUE testament to HIS DEVOTION to the positive development of little

Black Children------(HIS OWN WORDS,) and validated by ME....,) However,

I did'nt quite understand WHY I recieved such a reception in Canada, having called

attention to the fact that the snare drum that I played was as the "MOTHER,"

of AFRIKA, and that the tom-tom's that I played, were as the "voices" of

OUR Children of Afrika, and that the bass drum that I played, was as the

the voice of the "FATHER" (of AFRIKA,) and even though the several hundred people

present were predominately "Black," NONE truly HEARD the "message," therefore,

why applaud? Never mind, sometimes it don't make no difference how LOUD YOU

protest.....some of OUR FOLK just don't get it. (a treasured post BaBa....)

AMANI

ROARIN......

Akwaaba & namaste ROARIN!!!

A fine analogy; reminds me of yesterday. A brutha, who lived in West Afrika over 13 years, is "tuning" one of our grandson's Djembe. Tells me that, when he learned in Afrika, Djembe drums were not for sale. A drummer had to make his own drum. But now? He said at demonstrations in different European countries, the Djembe is heard!

Heard or not, its affect can be effective. For it can heal.

One would think that ancient chords'll be tuned into via the Drum......... but many of our folk are as zombie'd inside.

I giv thanks for increasing drummings in our musics.


BlackNificence is today's motto!