Drums have long been an integral, sacred part of the Burundi culture, part of almost every important ceremony in the country.
And among the most acclaimed drummers in that country are the Royal Drummers of Burundi, who perform at Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd., at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Pounding on instruments made of hollowed-out trees and stretched with animal skin, the drummers can make the hall throb with their energy and their rhythms.
The Royal Drummers are steeped in tradition. The art has been passed from generation to generation, and the way they play hasn't changed in centuries. The drums are woven into essential ceremonies, such as the coronation of kings and the birth of babies.
Here's what the New York Times had to say about the Royal Drummers: "A constant parade of players improvised on the central drum, dancing to the rhythms, leaping or twirling drumsticks in the air or around their necks. It was all a celebration of ability, the sheer pleasure of competitive creativity, and — strikingly similar to what happens in a jazz jam session — more virtuosic than sentimental."
People are also reading…
Tickets to the Mombasa Party and the Royal Drummers of Burundi, presented by UApresents, are $15-$37. Call 621-3341.
