Drums!
DRUMS!
Drums: The Heartbeat of Spirituality and Connection
This blog has been on ice for a year because I wanted to give drums the heartfelt homage they truly deserve. Drums are more than instruments—they are the heartbeat of cultures, ceremonies, and spiritual practices worldwide. From calling deities to inducing trance states, drums have a profound ability to connect us to the divine, to each other, and to our own spirits.
My Drum Journey :
A few weeks ago, I attended my first Trinidadian Thanksgiving, an event electrified by the rhythms of drums and songs dedicated to various Orisha. Despite the sweltering heat (temperatures soared over 100°F), the energy in the room was undeniable. The call-and-response to the drums was mesmerizing, and I felt a deep connection to the Ghanaian spiritual presence that also graced the event. Ghana, the land of Anansi stories, has always held a special place in my heart, and witnessing the deities being called through drum rhythms was awe-inspiring.
Drums and I share a deep connection. They call, and my spirit responds. I’ve experienced the powerful rhythms of Nyabingi, a drumming style from Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, later adopted by Rastafarians in Jamaica. Nyabingi, named after a powerful woman, “the one who possesses many things,” is a spiritual force in its own right. I’ve also been to Vodun ceremonies and witnessed the fiery presentations of Palo Mayombe. But nothing prepared me for the intensity of an Ocha drumming ceremony.
La Regla de Ocha (often misnomered as Santeria) is a beautiful and intricate tradition born from the resilience of enslaved Yoruba people from Nigeria. It’s a spiritual response to keeping the gods alive through the transatlantic journey, adapting Yoruba traditions into an Afro-Cuban story.
One of my most profound experiences with Ocha drumming happened years ago, pre-Instagram, at a house in Kendall. The home was dedicated to Ocha, with rooms for the seven major deities, mounds of fruit, food, and gifts, burning candles, ornate bovedas, and the sweet scent of offerings and prepared meals. Dressed in all white, as advised by my Baba, I was surrounded by Iyas, Babas, students, and devotees, all colorfully dressed.
The bata drummers began playing a dedication to Eshu-Elegba, and I was entranced. Soon, I heard whispers in my ear—words I understood but didn’t know the language of. Overwhelmed, I began to cry. The next thing I knew, I awoke in a small den with an older lady fanning me and patting my knee. I can’t divulge what happened because I don’t remember, but my Baba later told me he had never encountered anyone like me in all his years. While the experience scared me, it also deepened my respect for the power of drums and spiritual ceremonies.
The Universal Language of Drums:
Drums are more than instruments—they are conduits for spiritual energy, storytelling, and connection. Whether in Nyabingi, Vodun, Palo Mayombe, or Ocha, drums have the power to call deities, induce trance states, and unite communities.
Have you had experiences with drums, ceremonies, or trance states? Share your stories in the comments below! Let’s celebrate the heartbeat of spirituality together.
References of drums in Psalms verses
The Psalm mentions the drum several times. In verse 81:2, it says, “Raise a song; strike the timbrel, the sweet-sounding lyre with the harp.” The meaning of this verse is quite clear. It emphasizes the instrument’s importance in creating a reverberating effect that makes the praise sound even better.
In verse, 149:3, it says, “Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre.” This verse reflects how the timbrel’s sound helps praise the Lord in a more melodic manner.
It says in verse 150: 5, “Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.” If you notice, you’ll see that the verses till now all speak of drums being played along with another instrument. Even today, musical bands play the drum and the cymbal together to produce the tunes deemed necessary.
References of drums in the Exodus
The Book of Exodus, the second book of the Bible says in verse 15:20, “Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dancing.”
The use of the timbrel or drum in this commandment is clearly defined as an instrument used for celebrations that helps express joy and liveliness.
Reference of drums in the Jeremiah
In the Book of Jeremiah, the second of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, and the second of the Prophets in the Old Testament, mentions not drums but tambourines in verse 31:4 as, “again I will build you and you will be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! Again you will take up your tambourines, and go forth to the dances of the merrymakers.”
In the aforementioned verse, we see that in addition to the drum, another instrument that occupied importance is the tambourine. It was often a part of celebration and helped people express their emotions.
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