Drumming heals and this is why Robert Lawrence Friedman. wrote The Healing Power of the Drum.Psychotherapist and drum facilitator, Friedman, weaves a tapestry of personal experience, fascinating anecdotes and compelling research. He demonstrates the hand drum’s ( and ) capacity to provide significant health benefits for everyone. This breakthrough book examines the use of hand drums in treating at-risk adolescents, stressed-out employees, Vietnam veterans, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and more.
know moreAt African Beat, we use drums to tell stories, connect cultures and build teams. Led by renowned master drummer, Tuza, the creative force behind all African Beat’s programs, our African entertainers immerse people in the authentic African entertainment.Through our interactive drumming, we bring people together taking them on a fun-filled drumming adventure. For us, using drums for team building is our thing.Within minutes of sitting in front of a drum, people are overcome by curiosity and want to start creating a beat. Team building using drumming is all about transforming teams into a percussion orchestra, finding a common beat. It is a non-competitive activity, that requires trust, listening skills, and co-operation. By the end of the activity, the team is revived and has reached a unified goal.We love drums so much. We want to acknowledge the other ways that drums are used by people.
When planning for the year ahead, there is always someone (or many people) tasked with choosing a school incursion. Schools get many offers from performers and so it is important that teachers know what to expect from the production. Certain criteria have to be met. As an educational institution, you have a responsibility to the students and parents, to provide a sound education. Schools should not have a live performance without knowing exactly what to expect. So what does one look for when choosing a school incursion?
learn moreAfrica is a vast continent, rich and diverse with many different nations and cultures. Music hums through this land, with it used for many ceremonies, rituals and in religion.For African Beat, our founder Tuza hauls from Ghana, where drums are the heart of West African music. The main types of drums are and.We want to share with you a little about the djembe, which is the main type of drum African Beat uses for team building, performances, and school activities.
learn moreSo… You’ve been tasked with organising your work Christmas party – gulp! Ok! You can stop scratching your head! We’ve got you covered with ideas to make your office Xmas party rock!We’ll go through the best options based on your expected numbers, budget and some themes to base your party on.
learn moreTuza Afutu is a spectacular performer, passionate teacher and an expert in traditional West African music. He truly comes alive in front of an audience.Hailing from Ghana, West Africa, Tuza began drumming at an early age. He came from a poor family and says “There is no way we had enough money to buy a drum.” He had to improvise with nothing but pots, pans and jerry-cans.That was more than three decades ago. Now, Tuza is the Creative Director of African Beat. He entertains Australian audiences with interactive African drum and dance sessions. Tuza captivates diverse groups including school students, aged care residents and corporate high fliers.Tuza is an African Master DrummerIn simple terms, a master drummer is someone who has given their whole life to mastering the art of African drumming.Older masters pass down the status of “Master Drummer” through the generations. But what does it take to become a Master Drummer?Learning with the older generations of Master Drummers, usually for 20 yearsStarting at an early age and practising dailyThe ability to play all the rhythms, dances & songs of the tribe and nearby regions. That’s hundreds of different rhythms!Playing a variety of different percussion instruments and singingActing like the conductor while simultaneously playing solos and leading the music.
more about tuzaTuza formed The Salaka Ensemble in Nungua, Ghana in the mid-’90s. They are a group of genuine African performers, who share their love and passion for African music. “Salaka” means “sharing”, thus the group aim to share African music experiences with others. There is also a junior ensemble who learn from the main ensemble to further preserve the musical traditions.Salaka’s has toured annually in Australia since 2008. Their style of music is vibrant African drumming, breathtaking harmonies and high energy dancing.
Interactive EntertainmentTuza’s passion is sharing the music of his tribe (the Ga people) in the hope that traditional music would not be lost. He does this is by teaching younger generations back in Ghana (Salaka). He also gets everyday people playing the djembe.During live shows, the performers hand out hundreds of drums to the audience to get them involved in the music.“When you do a show and people are just watching you it’s not as engaging, so to make everybody happy you involve them and by the end of the performance, everyone feels like they are a part of it,” Tuza Afutu says.Tuza leads African Beat’s performances in his new home of Sydney, where he settled in 2004. He has performed for a myriad of audiences such as The Pope, The Socceroos, Kim Kardashian and The Premier of NSW.“It doesn’t matter if there are people speaking many different languages, everyone feels the groove and the rhythm. Rhythm is a language that allows us to communicate with anyone from anywhere in the world.