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Since ancient times,
drum rhythms have been the primary vehicle
driving shamans and diviners into sacred
trance for healing and prophecy. Indeed,
in contemporary West Africa the healing
drum continues to inspire spirit visitations,
divination and ritual revelations. Sacred
drumming attracts the presence of spirits
that help bring about community healing
and wholeness. Powerful drumbeats also keep
away harmful spirits. In short, ritual drumming
creates a purified space.
The
rhythm of the drum emulates the rhythms
of nature. As West Africans live respectfully
close to and in communion with sacred Mother
Earth, so living according to her rhythms
of life is an especially important goal
to attain. Dance and drum helps one to become
in tune with the harmonious vibrations of
the universe. Repetitions of the rhythms
become mantras. Drummers and dancers are
both moved by Spirit. Studies confirm that
listening to the continual repetition of
rhythms unifies the left and right hemispheres
of the brain, creating a meditative, euphoric
state of mind.
Indian
yogic tradition has a branch called Nada
Yoga, which also holds that ultimate reality
resides in vibration. Material reality is
a manifestation of different frequencies
of this base vibrational energy. As one
meditates on a rhythmic sound, the goal
is to experience the rhythm as the resounding
echo of the universal power of life manifesting
within the sound of one's own heart.
In
Indian styles of yoga, the aim is the reintegration
of the individual with the universal through
the expansion and development of consciousness.
African yoga seeks to achieve the same end.
The word for dance in Bamana is don. It
also means to be, to enter and to know.
Jembé, the most common drum played for dance,
comes from jebe which means to unite as
a group, to come together. Thus, the goal
of drum and dance in the West African tradition
is to transcend the individual self and
unite with the community, creation and the
Divine that permeates all. African yoga
also employs many of the common Indian yogic
techniques to achieve this: rhythmic breathing,
rhythmic chanting of sacred sounds, and
practice of physical postures. All of these
practices have their roots in ancient Egyptian
history, and continue today, albeit on a
small scale, in contemporary West African
culture.
For
African yoga to be harmoniously synthesized,
the drum rhythms must make sense with the
movements. For example, dundunba, a warrior
rhythm, would be an appropriate rhythm for
warrior pose. The jembé speaks the Bamana
language, and so the drum must speak a language
that matches the language of the poses.
As well, the rhythm of the breath must have
an appropriate rhythm to guide it gently
into and out of the pose. The combination
of meaningful, rhythmic drumming along with
fluid poses is a truly unique experience
that greatly enhances the practice of yoga.
Come join us in this revolutionary healing
art.
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