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The talking drums of West Africa

A sacred instrument that speaks words and mimics the human voice. Joining Bridget Kendall are Mohamed Gueye, Richard Olatunde Baker, Veronique Tadjo and H茅l猫ne Neveu Kringelbach.

The Talking Drum is one of the most sacred instruments of West Africa. Shaped like an hourglass, the drum has a unique melodic sound which means it can imitate the tones of language and in this way speak words. Along with its spiritual power and healing properties, the talking drum is also a source of history, poetry and proverbs.

Bridget Kendall traces the story of the talking drum to the present day with Mohamed Gueye from Senegal, who descends from a hereditary drummer family, Richard Olatunde Baker who specialises in the talking drum of the Yoruba of Nigeria, the Ivorian-French poet and novelist Veronique Tadjo who focuses on the influence of the talking drum on African literature and the Senegalese-French social anthropologist Dr H茅l猫ne Neveu Kringelbach.

Photo: (from left to right) Veronique Tadjo, Mohamed Gueye, presenter Bridget Kendall, Richard Olatunde Baker and H茅l猫ne Neveu Kringelbach in The Forum studio.

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41 minutes

Last on

Mon 11 Feb 2019 04:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Thu 7 Feb 2019 09:06GMT
  • Sat 9 Feb 2019 14:06GMT
  • Sun 10 Feb 2019 15:06GMT
  • Mon 11 Feb 2019 04:06GMT

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