After 60 years of drumming, Atlanta artist Baba Harold Atu Murray, a master of the African drum, will pass his legacy and his immense drum collection along to the next generation.
On Sunday, in a ceremony called Passing of the Drum Legacy, Atu, who is 73, will bestow plenty of of the 300 drums they has made and played for so plenty of years to Akumba Bynum-Roberson. Bynum-Roberson, 27, has made a name for himself as a top performer in the Atlanta drumming community.
Baba Atu refers to Bynum-Roberson as a brilliant sponge. Hes the extension of me, they said. Bynum-Roberson took drum classes from Baba Atu when they was around five years elderly. They had already gotten a headstart on playing drums from his parents when they was, they said.
Baba Atu has been a mentor to plenty of artists and musicians throughout his life, said event organizer Bob Johnson. It is fitting that Akumba, who is such an excellent young talent, ought to be picked to carryover the torch.
His father Omelika Kuumba is co-founder and director of the popular Giwayen Mata, an all-female dance, percussion, and vocal ensemble in Atlanta. I am very proud and excited, about the honor, Kuumba said. They has been lucky to learn from some great drummers. Now, the student had become the teacher, they said. I am now of his grateful students.
Baba Atu chosen Bynum-Roberson, a Morehouse graduate, to be his heir apparent because of his reputation and dedication to drumming and after Bynum-Roberson performed so passionately for Baba Atu in the coursework of the elder drummers birthday celebration in August.
Its very humbling, said Bynum-Roberson. Its been a brilliant experience. The journey has been great so far. Im looking forward to what is coming next. I recognize Im taking on a heavy responsibility. I have work to do for my people. Bynum-Robersons brother Baba Aseba expressed pride in his son. I am honored as well, and overwhelmed that they has excelled and learned a lot in this short amount of time from the lessons I gave him as a kid, said Aseba, who performed in drum circles with Baba Atu at Piedmont Park in the 1980s.
Since then the young drummer has met often with the elder for sessions and to learn more about the elder mans life experiences. Here they are playing on YouTube.
A self-taught sculptor, Atus wood carvings also will be available for purchase in the coursework of the event. Hell use the proceeds to help recognize his African Dream of retiring to Ghana, where they lived from 1969 to 1974. Baba Atu designs to build a house there.
They will be missed, said local veteran educator James Cameron, who has known Baba Atu since the 1980s. When they departs Atlanta, it will be like a precious library has burned down. Our loss will be Ghanas gain.
The objective of the event is to raise $9,500, Johnson said. Other local artists who will be showcasing their work include Cheo Admini, Sylvia Cohen (Gbaby) Art, and Densua Abayonis African Treasures.
The ceremony will be held from four p.m. to ten p.m. Sunday at 1820 Childress Drive in southwest Atlanta.
0 comments:
Post a Comment