An ode to the man I consider my primary drum teacher. Now in his 70's, for me he is a sage that speaks with his hands. In a tradition like djembe drumming that has a hell of a lot of ego attached to it in both person and playing style, Famoudou is a djembefola ("one who makes the djembe speak") of both magnanimity and humble grace, a true master whose style merely accentuates the beauty of what he does rather than dominating the music.
Water flows from mountains
Rhythmically,
Merging sky and earth.
His is a wordless poetry,
Phonetic beauty
In beats.
If drums are fire
And drummers are lightning,
Then his purpose is water
Shaping the thunder.
Joy is simplicity,
His joy is simple:
Take what is already there
-the apparent beauty-
And make for it an altar
To exalt the dusty feet
Of the dancing earth.
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