In the spirit of the Bantu notion that a conversation between the drum and the body is what affords us life: the drum symbolises the heart, and the beat is what tethers our body to our living.
To hit the drum is to converse; so too is to dance in response, to sing, to perform poetry, or to hit another drum.
Designed for rangatahi and facilitated by Tswana percussionist and musician Phodiso Dintwe, this series of two three-hour wānanga offered a holistic learning of performance from the many-sided Bantu view of engaging with the drum.
Attendees experienced traditional and modern drumming, poetry, song and dance, engaging in cultural traditions and conversation to explore self-expression and identity in an inclusive environment. The sessions were designed to be accessible for any young person, even those with no prior experience of dance or rhythm.
This kaupapa was made possible with the generous support of the Creative Communities Scheme, and conceptualised and delivered by Phodiso Dintwe.
