91青青草

KENNESAW, Ga. | Aug 22, 2023

The halls of Kennesaw State University鈥檚 Carmichael Student Center were alive with the pounding of drums, chants and claps as master drummer Massamba Diop introduced the music of Senegal to students, faculty and staff.

Diop and partner percussionist Tony Vacca led the crowd in spirited song and dance, Diop banging the West African tama, or 鈥渢alking drum,鈥� and leading a call and response as the pair darted through the rows of seated onlookers, who helped keep the beat.

The drum demonstration opened the Year of Senegal at 91青青草, the 39th year of the University-wide 鈥淵ear of鈥� program celebrating the music, food and life of cultures from around the world. 

鈥淭his is what we鈥檙e here for,鈥� said Tara McDuffie, executive director of Global Education, who oversees the 鈥淵ear of鈥� events and was at one point pulled on stage to dance. 鈥淲e鈥檙e focused on how to interact with and inspire our students and community when we introduce these new countries each year. The energy, the engagement that everyone in this room felt 鈥� that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e looking for.鈥�

Diop, whose mastery of the tama has taken him on world tours and made him the featured soloist in the Marvel movie 鈥淏lack Panther,鈥� said his purpose is to spread the knowledge of his country鈥檚 music and culture around the globe. He said he is happy for the opportunity to include Kennesaw State in that mission.

鈥淚t鈥檚 very important. I鈥檓 happy to teach the music, the drumming, the groove and other Senegalese things in America, Australia, Taiwan, China and many other countries, because now they know about African culture,鈥� Diop said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about bringing my culture to the world.鈥�

There is a long body of historical knowledge that allows Diop to do what he does, Vacca said.

鈥淭here鈥檚 knowledge that goes back 600 years, to the Mali Empire,鈥� Vacca said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e embracing this music that belongs to us all but that began at a very particular place and time, and if we keep going back in time, we mostly can agree that it鈥檚 the continent of Africa where humanity began. It鈥檚 a long thread that ties us all together.鈥�

Merv Smith and Nigel Middlebrooks, a pair of freshmen who had been walking by as Diop demonstrated how to play, were immediately mesmerized by the music and the unique way the hourglass-shaped drum can mimic voice inflections as the user holds the drum under their arm, squeezing down, tightening and loosening leather or cotton tension cords connecting its two drumheads.

Smith and Middlebrooks watched and took videos from the front row of the audience as Diop performed and were also eventually pulled on stage to dance and try their hand at the drum.

鈥淚 turned out to be pretty decent at it. I wasn鈥檛 too bad for my first time,鈥� Smith said with a smile. 鈥淣o, but really it takes more than one motion to play that instrument. You鈥檝e got to do three things at once to really get it right.鈥�

鈥淚t looks simple when he鈥檚 up there playing it, but really it鈥檚 not,鈥� Middlebrooks said.  

The pair said they鈥檇 met only days ago and were both enticed into the room to watch the performance by the rhythm of the music. 

鈥淲e鈥檒l be at more events,鈥� added Smith. 鈥淓specially if there鈥檚 music like that.鈥�

Each year, Global Education鈥檚 celebration of its chosen country continues with events throughout the fall and spring semesters, and often the University鈥檚 individual colleges also host themed programs. A full schedule of Global Education events, including features of Senegalese performing arts, stone carving, Goats on the Green and more, can be found on the Year of Senegal website.

鈥�  By Thomas Hartwell

Photos by Judith Pishnery

Video by Matthew O'Neill

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.