Drum Roll Please!

By Taylah Fellows

“It started when I moved to Newcastle and bumped into a guy called Afro Moses, this five-foot African from Ghana, dreadlocks down to his knees and he and I became very good friends and he taught me how to drum,” said Robert Towler.

Robert Towler has over fifteen years of drumming experience and has learned from some of the best African drummers in the world.

In collaboration with The Upper Hunter African Drumming Group, Robert will be leading an African drumming and dancing workshop at Scone’s Uniting Church Hall next Saturday, August 31st.

“I’ve been lucky because I’ve met famous African musicians through Moses,” said Robert Towler.

“I bumped into the Bangoura family from Guinea, and they all travel the world playing instruments and sharing Afrian music,” he said.

Robert has built his relationship with West-African drumming communities through an exchange of knowledge and woodworking skills. 

“I liked the idea of making musical instruments out of wood…Moses is a very good musician but he’s also very hard on his equipment and because I have experience in woodworking, I repaired his instruments and then we eventually designed and created instruments based on his traditional African lineage,” said Robert.

“Epizo Bangoura is one of the most famous drummers in the world and he lives at my place and utilises all my machines and tools to build instruments here and then takes them back to China, Japan and Guinea,” he said.

“Part of what they’re doing is sharing their history with the rest of the world, they take it upon themselves to travel the world and tell everyone about West Africa..and these same guys are just camping out at my place, cooking me food and stuff in exchange for my woodworking skills,” he said.

Theirno Bangoura, professional percussionist and dancer, will be accompanying Robert Towler to the workshop.

“He’s a brilliant drummer and dancer, so he will be there and you will see and hear the patterns of the rhythm, really get a feel for it,” said Robert Towler.

“When they’re on stage, their face lights up and their whole body comes alive and they just love it and love sharing it with others who are interested in their music,” he said. 

The workshop will include teachings of African storytelling through rhythm and dance and Robert’s handcrafted djembe drums will be available for use and purchase on the day.

“It’s pretty easy to get a sound out of a log with a piece of skin over it, you just bash it and it makes a noise but we will be teaching how to get the African feel to it,” said Robert Towler.

“Music is their life in West Africa and that’s how they teach their history, through their music,” he said.

“The musicians, they’re called the Griot, they are the stars, the important people of the village because they are the history keepers,” he said. 

After going to a music camp in January, Pieternella Jarvie, founder of the Upper Hunter African Drumming Group, fell in love with African music and the djembe drum.

“I ended up with the djembe and I was desperate to play it with other people and so I put a post on the community notice board ‘anybody able to teach us?'” said Pieternella Jarvie.

“Then luckily Glen Hughes came forward and said he would facilitate classes through the conservatorium,” she said.

Pieternella and Glen started the group with weekly Wednesday classes, held at the Scone Public School.

“People have to contact the conservatorium to book a spot in the term class, they’re quite popular now so we have two separate time slots at 5:15 and 6 pm,” said Pieternella Jarvie.

After the weekly classes became a huge success, Pieternella wanted to expand the group and include professional guided workshops with guest drummers.

“I really wanted to get some expertise in and then Robert Towler just kind of appeared,” said Pieternella Jarvie.

“I was excitedly chatting about the drumming to a lady sitting next to me at my grandaughter’s kindergarten class, and she said one of her relatives [Robert Towler] in Newcastle is very into drumming and actually makes the drums,” she said.

“The Saturday afternoon workshops will be good for those who can’t commit to a full term of the weekly classes, they can still come drum with us even if its a one-off,” she said.

“I’m just really excited to start jamming outside together and show people what we do!” said Pieternella. 

• For more updates join the: Upper Hunter African Drumming Facebook Group
• When: Saturday, August 31st, 2 pm- 4 pm.
• Where: Uniting Church Hall, 76 Main St, Scone NSW 2337