Master drummer, drum carver and teacher Baba Tyehimba Mtu is on tour throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands through July 5 and will give performances, drumming workshops, drum-making talks and what he calls healing drums at festivals and events on all three major islands.
A Chicago resident, Mtu has traveled throughout Africa and around the world, studying African heritage and world heritage music. He has been a drummer more than 50 years, according to St. Croix resident Chenzirah Kahina, managing director of Per Ankh, which organized and sponsored Mtu’s visit.
The name of Mtu’s drumming ensemble is Ngoma Ku Sema, which means talking drums, Kahina said.
"He plays polyphonic rhythms on as many as six drums at one time," she said.
He produces ancient, traditional and contemporary music using instruments he carved himself and he refers to it as talking with the drum, she said.
"He uses the drum in a spiritual connection through his performances," she said.
"In addition to being a grand master drummer, he is one of three master drum carvers in the U.S., making traditional African drums by hand, from selecting a tree to carving and curing the wood and stringing it with animal skin."
Mtu has hosted workshops in music, in healing drums and personal spiritual empowerment for many years, said Kahina. He preserves and promotes African traditional music but also Celtic and other forms and can be said to be one of the early, major forces in world heritage music, she said.
"The focus of this was to show people the importance of cultural education and performing arts and how we can embrace our cultural heritage in a way that is very respectful of Virgin Islands history and culture and at the same time embrace world culture," Kahina said.
St. Croix Landmarks Society is hosting a Listen and Learn Series featuring Mtu, 10 a.m. Friday at Whim Museum Grounds. Admission is complimentary for Summer Camp participants and Senior Citizens. Mtu will performing at the St. Croix Landmarks Society World Heritage Music Concert, 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Whim Museum Grounds. Call 772-0598 for tickets or information about either event.
Sunday he will give a short demonstration during Mango Melee at the St. George’s Botanical Gardens.
July 3 – V.I. Emancipation Day, Mtu will perform at 8 a.m. on the Frederiksted Waterfront for an Emancipation and Global Day of the Drum drum circle. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. he will be at Emancipation Gardens on St. Thomas. Call 1-800-450-9170 for more information. Then he travels to St. John for the carnival festival. July 6, Mtu will provide a drumming and wood carving workshop with students for UVI-CES St. Thomas’ 4H Summer Camp. Call 340-473-6659 for detailsMore information can be obtained by calling Per Ankh at (340) 244-2524.
