On this episode of My Hustle, The 77 Percent’s Samson Adeleke finds out what it takes to build, play and dance to talking drums in Benin Republic's famous Pepit'arts drum school.
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00:00Ladies and gentlemen, kick off those high heels because we are about to embrace the
00:16African drums.
00:18Today, I've got two incredible ocelots.
00:25One is a percussionist.
00:28My name is Ounga Cecile. I'm a member of PEPITAT. I'm a percussionist and dancer.
00:35And the other is a drum maker.
00:38My name is Akuan Buweke Isaac. I make drums.
00:42This is my hustle.
00:44In Africa, we say you can't dance without a drum.
00:48So, I accessed it to take me to a famous drum maker in Benare Republic.
00:54If you want to try this craft, the first tool we use for shaping is this one.
01:04We call it Hanvi Achue.
01:09The second tool is called Akun.
01:15No matter what type of drum you are making, you will need this tool to make holes in the wood.
01:24The tool is very important for shaping the drum.
01:27We call it Hanvi Nukpatong.
01:34Guys, it's so unfortunate I cannot try this out.
01:37How I wish I can do it, but according to the tradition, a stranger is not allowed to use all these tools.
01:45Sam, this is what we use to scratch the drum's body.
01:49We don't use sandpaper.
01:51No matter what kind of drum it is, we use this to clean its body.
02:01Can you see how smooth it is now?
02:05After putting on the leather, we place the drum back in the sun.
02:09We soak the leather in water to make it soft.
02:12Once it's soft, we attach it to the drum, and we put it back in the sun to dry.
02:22To make a drum takes a lot of process, from carving the wood to getting the animal leather.
02:28And thereafter, they take it to the market, and people like Pepita come to buy the drum.
02:35Wow, you've got so many drums here.
02:37Yes.
02:38Now tell me, what do you call this one?
02:40It is Pavle.
02:41Pavle?
02:42Yes.
02:43And this one?
02:44Pavle.
02:45Pavle?
02:46Same drum is Pavle.
02:47Nice one. And this one?
02:48No, this.
02:52Wow.
02:53Now tell me, what does it take to be a percussionist?
02:56All you need is the desire, the enthusiasm, and the passion to become a percussionist,
03:02as this is where you learn the skills.
03:04There is no requirement to have prior experience.
03:07Even if you've never played before, we will guide you in learning how to play.
03:13Guys, it's not easy to be a drummer.
03:15This guy is trying.
03:16What kind of event do you guys normally attend?
03:18We have performed several shows in France.
03:23We went to Dubai for Expo 2020.
03:28We went to Germany, specifically to Bayreuth.
03:33And we participated in the Mask Festival in Porto Novo
03:37and the Vodun Days Festival in Ouida last January.
03:42Is this your Osu profitable?
03:44Yes.
03:45It's profitable because, first of all, when we are invited for festivals as artists
03:50and in order to avoid any issues, we are given money.
03:55And the money is not for our supervisors to take and use.
03:59No, no.
04:03Our travel, our tickets, we do not use our own money to pay for this.
04:10We use the money that we get from the festivals.
04:14We use the money for these shows to pay for the visa, plane tickets, suitcases, food and everything.
04:22I can see that you guys have a lot of young people among your team.
04:26How do you guys balance your education and your profession?
04:29Our schooling is also funded by the Pepitat Center.
04:32Each year we receive study aids to help us perform well in school,
04:36including supplies and other resources.
04:39So they help and support us.
04:41You dance so good.
04:43So I'm wondering, have you managed to twist your body like this?
04:49It's normal because I've been learning to dance and sing for six years.
04:54I've always learned it here.
05:01Wow.
05:03So guys, as the great African proverb says,
05:06when the drum beats, the heart dances.
05:09And when the heart dances, the spirit is free.
05:12Keep watching DW the 77%.