2008 Woodie Awards
African ensemble spreads the beat of a native drum
Jennifer Bhargava
Issue date: 2/13/06 Section: Culture
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Although the drum ensemble reveals a sound unfamiliar to most ears, their pulsating beat proves rhythm has no borders.
"I love channeling the energy to the audience, because they reflect it back to us through dancing," said Tanya Price, Djembe Kaan member and assistant anthropology professor. "It's a beautiful feeling to present a traditional culture to people."
The band took its name from one of the drums they play - the djembe. Along with the djembe, the band includes three different types of dununs (two-sided cow-skinned drums): the kinkeni (small, high pitch), the sangban (medium, medium pitch) and the dununba (big, low pitch).
Djembe Kaan's founder, Baba Felipe, began his journey with the instruments over six years ago.
"I turned to the drums because I discovered vibrations from the djembe have healing properties and my wife was sick," said Felipe, who started playing six years ago.
In 2002, Felipe's reputation as a musician took off and he landed a gig at the University of Missouri-Rolla. However, his band-mates deserted him at the last minute. Frantic, Felipe scoured the small West African music scene for qualified drummers to help him in the show. Djembe Kaan was born.
The band currently has seven members: Felipe, Price, Sean Branagan, Greg Ince, Dylan Bassett, Matthieu Rodde and Marie-Laure Pellegrin.
What most audiences find surprising about Djembe Kaan is that over half the band is white; two of the members - Pellegrin and Rodde - are French.
"I like the diversity of our group," said Pellegrin. "It reflects the diversity of the music also and the fact that this type of music can touch anybody and everybody."
Each member of the ensemble puts several hours of time and dedication in his or her music, which can get difficult with a day job.
Although many of the band members have learned to juggle multiple roles, other band members, such as Felipe, regard the African culture as life.
His passion lies not only in music but also in African jewelry, masks and art. His association in the African community is beneficial to the band's success.
