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Hi all,
I hope everyone has been having a wonderful summer. Here, in Southern
California, the heat has been intense. It is the first time that I've
experienced humidity since moving to San Diego from my country of
origin, South Africa. Humidity was a sensation we were more familiar
with there.
It has brought back memories
of my youth when I used to spend summer
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vacations in the Tropical holiday resort
of Durban. It was on these holidays as a child that I first noticed
the effect drumming had on people. Durban is a tourist resort situated
on the Kwa Zulu/Natal coast of the Indian Ocean.
Walking along the main "promenade", the road stretching
along the beach, one would inevitably come across a group of Zulu
men, dressed in their traditional warrior garb, with animal skin skirts
and feathered head dresses, holding African Zulu shields and knobkerries
(African war stick). The leader of the group, usually a man of impressive
stature, stood in the front. He would direct the dancers and the traditional
music played by the musicians. The drummers, drums firmly held between
their strong, muscular legs, arms energetic and untiring, hands banging
on the drums' skin, at times hard and others softly, translated their
movements into pure energy and rhythm
It always amazed me how drumming had the magical power of drawing
the local or foreign crowds of young and old people alike, who
joined in the dancing and drumming, mesmerized, enjoying and sharing
the spirit and groove that united total strangers, all moved by its
compelling power.
Now, this was when Apartheid was in full force, but you would never
have guessed it by the crowd of people of all races enjoying themselves.
All barriers had been lifted for the short time that the drums resounded.
The mystical rhythm brought everyone together and for that moment
in time nothing else mattered but the drumming and connectivity. I
know for sure now that this was the moment when drumming entered my
life and I realized that I could use the power of this instrument
to bring about a healing force into the world.
So, now I am President of Drum Cafe California and I am journeying
on my path using the drum to shift, change and shape energies on this
planet.
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The world today seems to be going through some very tough times,
and peace among nations is ever so hard to maintain. Global warming
is affecting every single sole on this earth and we are learning
new ways to adapt to the unexpected atrocities that challenge us
every day. In my years of facilitating interactive drumming events
for corporations, educational and religious institutions, I always
walk away with the unbelievable realization that groups of people
come together in rhythm and dance purely from the sheer joy of drumming,
listening to and relying on one another. I feel that each person
has discovered a new inner core to their soul that allows them to
communicate with their fellow being. It is my burning desire and
commitment to make a conscious effort in bringing people together,
helping them to communicate and bond as a community.
With this particular goal in mind, the Drum Cafe California is sponsoring
a teambuilding drumming event in San Diego to raise funds for Christie's
Place and the Women's
Resource Center. www.drumraiser.com
I urge you to come and join together as a community and help raise
funds for these wonderful non-profit organizations. On September
9, 2006 at 5:00pm we will be hosting a truly unique interactive
event, where you will be able to drum along with us and help raise
money for really worthwhile causes. The event will take place at
The
Center – 39090 Centre ST. San Diego, Ca 92103. Showtime
is 5:30pm sharp! Don’t be late.
Christie's
Place is a nonprofit social service organization in San Diego
County that provides HIV/AIDS education, support
and advocacy. Their mission is to empower women, children, families
and individuals whose lives have been impacted by HIV/AIDS to take
charge of their health and well-being.
The
Women’s Resource Center’s mission is to create a
safe space where women will have access to important resources and
referrals regarding health care, social services, and community
activities.
So
let’s join communities
and help shift consciousness
in this world.
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