1 week Ago By Guardian Nigeria
The World Drummers Day, a global event that brings together drummers from around the world, was celebrated this year by Guild of Theatre Arts and Drummers (GOTHAD), in collaboration with The National Arts Theatre and National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN). With Drum for More Kindness, Tolerance, and Togetherness as theme, the event had a drummers’ workshop hosted by the AD/CEO of the NTN, Hajja Kaltume Bulama Gana (fsna). It featured sessions for over 100 selected students from Lagos and an award ceremony that presented certificates to workshop participants.
The training session exposed participants to different kinds of drums and their unique sounds, dundun, bata, bembe, takoro and udu, with distinctive sounds and cultural significance, afterwards, the participants showcased traditional Nigerian rhythms from the Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa ethnic groups. One of the participants, Edmund Olugbamila, said though he could drum prior attending the workshop, he had learnt new things. Olugbamila, who is a student of Bright Achievers School, said he would love to pursue a career in drumming because of the entertainment it provides.
According to him, “This workshop has helped me learn the things I didn’t know before, like Gbedu, Djembe and Sato.” Commenting on the event, Bulama-Gana said this would help ensure the continuity of the country’s rich artistic heritage. According to her, “the magic of drums was its unifying effect for all black people around the world.
“Anywhere you see Africans, whether in Africa or diaspora, they are united by the power of the beauty of drums. The sound and the vibrance of it, everybody has a rhythm that he follows with the sound he hears, but the sound of the drum is the one that unifies these rhythms and it brings us all into one whole community,” she said. Bulama-Gana emphasised the importance of training young talents to foster their interest in arts, including drumming, through structured programmes to avoid losing the nation’s cultural heritage.
She said, “any society that wants a continuation of its arts and culture must involve the young ones. If we don’t provide training and get them excited through programmes like this, we risk losing our cultural heritage within a generation.” Acknowledging the challenges of drummers, including inadequate access to quality equipment and rehearsal spaces, Bulama-Gana expressed optimism that government initiatives and infrastructural improvements will resolve these issues.
“We have a challenge with the National Theatre not being fully operational but the government is prioritising infrastructure. Soon, artists will have proper venues to celebrate and exhibit their craft,” she said. GOTHAD’s World Drummers Day 2025 committee chairperson, Grace Olatunji, said the event was aimed at inspiring younger generations to engage with traditional music.
She also harped on the importance of preserving traditional drumming as a core element of Nigeria’s cultural heritage. According to her, “Our culture is fading due to modernisation but events like this help young people develop an interest in drumming and cultural heritage. If they take an interest, they will want to learn more, ensuring that our traditions do not disappear.
” The performance segment highlighted the exceptional talents of the National Troupe of Nigeria, which not only performed but also took an active role as instructors, guiding students in a special performance. The event also featured a lively drum circle party involving top dignitaries such as Olori Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi (Olori Ooni of Ife, Ojaja II, Grand Royal Patron of GOTHAD), DG/CEO, National Theatre, Tola Akerele; Convener, GOTHAD Chairman, Seun Awobajo. The event ended with recognition of legendary drummers and cultural icons for their outstanding contributions to African drumming and heritage.
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