Babatunde Olatunji (wiki) was a Nigerian drummer, social activist, scholar, educator and recording artist. When I first heard the call of the drum some twenty years ago. I scoured the public library for anything that I could find on hand drumming. At that time there was a lot less information on Youtube and on the internet in general. Now we are very fortunate to have access to many many resources, some paid, and many free.
I'd like to invite you on the journey to share some of the most valuable resources and remarkable discoveries I've made on my own journey as you set off on your own rhythm journey.

When I would later become a professional Drum Circle Facilitator, I realized that Babatunde was also the teacher of my teacher's teacher. Tanya Schur a Cree woman based out of Red Deer, Alberta taught me the art of Drum Circle Facilitator for communities, her teacher the grandfather of mother Drum Circle Facilitaton was Arthur Hull. Later I was blessed to drum with and meet Arthur Hull at a conference in North Carolina.

I had heard that in the early 60's in the US, Babatunde Olatunji was one of the first drum teachers from West Africa to start teaching publically sharing his knowledge. I had heard that he said something like although it's important to learn our music, it's more or just as important to learn to make your own music. I would add that it is also important to look into our own ancestral roots and the music and rhythms that come from our own culture. For whatever reason, sometimes, we are drawn to or not so drawn to these, I do know that everything has it's season's and cycles in life.

Even though I never met this man, I consider myself deeply blessed to be connected to him through his recordings, and through my teachers.
He forever lives on in my heart, and may his gentle wisdom and power also inspire and touch you.

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