Things came to a screeching halt with my blogging thing. I had to divert to other pressing needs. Five new projects for 2010 came along ready for genius dreaming. So against the backdrop of all that was on the burner, I'm transforming into a phenomenal Events Developer and Director, incorporating the diabolical beats of the Caribbean into unflagging inspiration.
One of the events will feature a segment dubbed "Bangarang". Bangarang stipulate something astouding, spirit elevating and joy rising. The focus is drumming and Kumina has been selected as the defacto “Star” of Bangarang due to its tri-fold component of drumming, singing and dancing. This drumming tradition is still practiced in Jamaica, parts of Columbia and with variation across the Caribbean region. Workshops are an essential companion element because its important to teach and learn specifics. It demonstrates rituals surrounding one's etnicity. Drumming culture is perhaps the richest treasure throve in Caribbean heritage. Look for my announcements in January 2010.
What is kumina?
Kumina originally called kaduuga, is a traditional life cycle celebration. It combines drumming, singing and dance. (The immensely popular Reggae music evolved from Kunina). There are two types of Kumina (i) Bailo, used for wedding and births (ii) Country, used for death/funerals (Nine Nights; 40th Nights etc). In Kumina, a master drummer(cyas leader) is vital. He plays the lead rhythm for the other drummers to follow as well as impel the singers and dancers (cyas members) to join the celebration. The singers and dancers clap to the rhythm, use other instruments graters, marachas and catta sticks (catta sticks are used to played on the back of the drum) . A king and queen head up the singing with while kumina dance features a flat-footed inching of the feet (kongo step), a steady, often subtle, forward-thrusting of the hip, the rib cage and arms moving against the hip, followed by quick spins and breaks, signaled by the lead drum (Kbandu). Kumina’s practice is incomplete without all three elements. Sprinkled through the Caribbean region are drumming, singing and dance practices that mimmic Kumina, ie. Shango (T&T, Grenada) Buru, Gerreh, Dinki Mini, Bruckins, Nyabingi (Ja) Kwe-Kwe (Guyanese) and Vodoo (Haiti). There are different points of view on the stories of how this practice arrived in the Caribbean./www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQNEVyuF2KI
Kumina originally called kaduuga, is a traditional life cycle celebration. It combines drumming, singing and dance. (The immensely popular Reggae music evolved from Kunina). There are two types of Kumina (i) Bailo, used for wedding and births (ii) Country, used for death/funerals (Nine Nights; 40th Nights etc). In Kumina, a master drummer(cyas leader) is vital. He plays the lead rhythm for the other drummers to follow as well as impel the singers and dancers (cyas members) to join the celebration. The singers and dancers clap to the rhythm, use other instruments graters, marachas and catta sticks (catta sticks are used to played on the back of the drum) . A king and queen head up the singing with while kumina dance features a flat-footed inching of the feet (kongo step), a steady, often subtle, forward-thrusting of the hip, the rib cage and arms moving against the hip, followed by quick spins and breaks, signaled by the lead drum (Kbandu). Kumina’s practice is incomplete without all three elements. Sprinkled through the Caribbean region are drumming, singing and dance practices that mimmic Kumina, ie. Shango (T&T, Grenada) Buru, Gerreh, Dinki Mini, Bruckins, Nyabingi (Ja) Kwe-Kwe (Guyanese) and Vodoo (Haiti). There are different points of view on the stories of how this practice arrived in the Caribbean./www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQNEVyuF2KI
