These 10 drummers will be performing twice on stage as well as having a booth set up throughout the day. The group will be sharing the secrets of their drums and Burundi culture at hands on workshops at their booth.
BATIMBO-THE MASTER DRUMMERS OF BURUNDI
Burundi is a small country in East –Central Africa situated northeast of Tanganyika, surrounded by Republic Democratic of Congo, Tanzania and Rwanda. It acquired its independence 1962. Most of its population relies on cattle rearing and mixed farming for their livelihood. The tree ethnic groups in Burundi are the Hutu, the Tutsi and the Twa.
The Batimbo retain the responsibility and privilege of making, beating and keeping the drums. As recently as 39 years ago, the drums could only be beaten in homage to the king (Mwami) or to his ancestors. Today their tradition is gradually loosing its ritual symbolism to became more of an art reserved for festivals.
Each year the ritualists bring a certain number of drums to the royal court on the occasion of the festival of Muganuro, during which the king gives the signal for the sorghum sowing to begin. They beat the drums during the ceremonies that are completely complex, lasting for a month. Returning home, the master drummers have the right to beat the drums for few more days. The drums are kept in a special hut and are silenced until the following year.
The master drummers ensemble, dressed in amply draped robes of green, red and white, is composed of fifteen drums arranged in a circular arc. The drums of the left amashakwe, provide the continuous rhythm, while those on right, Ibishikizo, follow the rhythm given by the soloist ( placed in the center of the semi-circle in front of others).The soloist drums –the central drum- bear the name of Inkiranya,. The performers are in constant interplay with the audience and each drummer may spontaneously leave his drum, take his place in the center of the arc, and dance. In some of more spectacular performance, drummers may leap over their drums or place the drums on their heads while playing or dancing.
