The Lagos Drum Circle

Source: The Lagos Drum Circle Group

The Lagos Drum Circle used to hold on the last Saturday of every month at the Freedom Park, Lagos Island. I have been a participant of the drum circle at this venue once in 2016 but this year, the party has moved to Ikoyi.

The drum circle event is organized by Tai Adelaja. He is a percussionist, sound designer and music technologist from Lagos, Nigeria. He freelances as a studio designer, music producer and sound engineer. He is a trained master of the djundjun (an African bass drum), a competent accompanist on djembe, a global music aficionado and an expert on electronic and traditional musical instruments. 

The Roots Restaurant situated at the Ethnic Heritage Center, 35A, Raymond Njoku Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, was our host for yesterday's drum circle event. 

I prefer this venue because it is cozy and electric gadgets like the microphone, microphone stand, speaker, etc were available unlike at Freedom Park where we have to sing and drum without a microphone. The microphone is necessary for me as a gangan drummer so that you hear my beats properly and enjoy it too.

Drum circle is an event where every participant can play a drum. It helps to reduce stress and improves team work. 

Participants danced, joined in the chorus and call and response songs and some of them even came up on stage to play the drums. Others played the sekere whilst sitting down. It was a pleasant experience.

I was there and I participated in the djembe drum playing. The only time that I play the djembe is during my music therapy sessions. My major drum is the gangan. You will watch my drum performance on the talking drum in the next edition. I hope that the drum circle sessions will be consistent and not go on hiatus again.

Below are pictures of me at the event. I wore a black blouse and navy blue skirt-wrapper with light blue pleats at the edges.

Source: The Lagos Drum Circle

If you are new in town or you want a different form of relaxation in Lagos, kindly join the Lagos Drum Circle Facebook group for future information. See you soon!