{"id":143571,"date":"2025-02-27T12:48:53","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T11:48:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humboldtforum.org\/?post_type=event&p=143571"},"modified":"2026-03-02T12:11:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T11:11:30","slug":"musical-belongings-v","status":"publish","type":"event","link":"https:\/\/www.humboldtforum.org\/en\/programm\/termin\/concert\/musical-belongings-v-143571\/","title":{"rendered":"Musical Belongings V"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t
\n
\n
\n

TALKING DRUMS: NIGERIA<\/h4>\n

lautten compagney BERLIN feat. ARA – Queen of Drums & Band <\/strong><\/p>\n

The lautten compagney BERLIN explores the possibilities of music beyond the colonial canon with their project\u00a0TALKING DRUMS: NIGERIA<\/strong>. The project critically examines the unchallenged perpetuation of broad labels like “African music.” The methods of so-called “early music” from Europe reveal parallels to West African performance practices, as exemplified by techniques such as ostinato\/riff, call and response, and hoketus\/interlocking. These shared origins and differences will be explored in a one-week workshop and two concerts on May 2 and 3, 2025, at the Humboldt Forum.<\/p>\n

At the heart of the project are two musical traditions: the music of the Yoruba people in Nigeria, with its highly developed percussion culture, and the compositions of Charles Ignatius Sancho, who in the late 18th century became the first Black composer to perform in London and exercise the right to vote in Britain.<\/p>\n

Among the musicians who keep the rich heritage of the\u00a0TALKING DRUMS<\/strong>\u00a0alive is\u00a0Aralola Olamuyiwa<\/strong>, also known as ARA, celebrated as the “Queen of the Talking Drums.” Recognized as the first Nigerian woman to gain worldwide recognition in the male-dominated world of percussion, she also serves as a cultural ambassador for the Ooni of Ife and the Yoruba culture. Ara is not only a drummer but also a singer and entertainer. She will be joined in Berlin by a three-member percussion ensemble featuring the Bata, Omele, and Dundun drums.<\/p>\n

The so-called “talking drums” of West African cultures were traditionally tools of daily communication, often functioning as message drums capable of mimicking the pitch patterns of tonal languages. Today, the drums are more ritually integrated, holding significant religious and ceremonial roles.<\/p>\n

The German singer Julienne Mbodj\u00e9<\/strong> lends depth to the hybrid composition through her own musical contribution, drawing from a wide repertoire of both classical and contemporary music traditions. The contemporary interpretation and queer reading of Yoruba mythology play a major role in the literary work of Logan February<\/strong>. Born in 1999 in Anambra, Nigeria, this poet and essayist will reflect on songs and stories from the talking drum tradition, exploring their linguistic character through their texts and reflections.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
Trailer Musical Belongings V<\/h5>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t