1. Key Terms
polyrhythm
Yoruba

2. African Drumming central to most West African traditional music
came to Americas via slave trade
influenced many styles including jazz

3. Yoruba Drumming Yoruba people of Togo, Benin, and Nigeria
many religious and non-religious uses of drumming

4. Polyrhythms overlapped, contrasting rhythms
one drum lays down a basic pulse
other drums play variety of rhythms
duplication of main rhythm
more complicated and varied rhythms with extensive syncopation
an entirely different pattern

5. “Ako” from the Egungun festival repertory
played by virtuoso Yoruba drummers
some clear polyrhythmic interactions

6. “talking drum” (mother drum)
Iya ilu
“talking drum” (mother drum)

7. Bata drums

8. Polyrhythms in “Ako” omele ako plays constant pulse
eki plays recurring syncopated pattern
iya ilu (mother drum) departs freely from main pulse throughout
at one point plays 3 + 3
feeling of triple meter against 4 + 4

9. Omele ako

10. omele abo

11. Let’s watch!