On a good day, a talking drum in the hand of a good drummer is a great thing to listen to. But imagine when the drummer is accompanied by some 14 other people equally flaunting iya ilu, gangan or any other member of the Yoruba talking drum family. It is one of the memorable experiences that a lover of African art can have.
With Dabi Kanyinsola, such an experience is expected. The Iseyin, Oyo State-born drummer, who recently returned to the country after years of sojourn abroad, is at the head of a 15-man Talking Drum Orchestra, which has performed in various places within and outside Nigeria. While preparing for a trip to Germany a few months ago, prominent people that included businessmen, academics and expatriates had a feel of the prowess of Kanyinsola – popularly called Dabi Ayanlola– and his troupe.
In a musical outpouring, their drumbeat caused a rhythmic panic in the Yoruba Tennis Club hall at Onikan, Lagos. It was supposed to be a demonstrative event, but not even a German member of the audience could resist joining the orchestra to dance on the stage.
Having lived in France, Canada and being to Japan and a few other countries, Dabi can speak up to seven languages — to a varying extent. These are his native Yoruba, English, French, Chinese, Spanish, Russian and Japanese. He has been able to transfer this into his performances as he uses his drum to send out notes in these languages.
Interestingly, Dabi used to look down on the art of drumming. Although he started drumming when he was six, following his father who was a drummer to occasions, he hated the routine of wandering up and down everyday. He was thus relieved when opportunity came for him to start schooling.
“But my father always told me that no matter what education I had, I would still go back to drumming,” says Dabi, who is set to present his second album, Gbedu Gbigbona, coming after Ijo Muke – Dance Galore. “When I was a student in France I used to follow Some African groups. Tuition was free but I needed pocket money. Later I lived in Montreal, Canada between 1996 and 1999, doing music and making money. My father’s prediction further came to pass when I established a talking drum academy in Montreal, teaching people from different races the art of drumming.”
In the eight-track album, Gbedu Gbigbona are Drumming Around the World and A Call to Dance rendered in Spanish – Quire Baiarcentigo.