Drummer's Return

Dimensions: 112 x 87cm
 
Praise singing is integral to the culture of the west African people. At the heart of this practice are professional praise singers, mostly men, and they have one predominant Instrument, the ‘gangan’ or the talking drum. 
 
So, these men compose freestyle spontaneously rhymes and proses that eulogise and praise their subject, in return for a cash gift from the person they are praising. These guys are so skilled, I feel they would put the best beat boxers, rappers to shame. 
 
The original Cypher! Here Abiona uses his knife and palette again to great effect as he captures these men returning from a ‘profitable’ day out, having delivered spellbinding lyrics assisted with their ubiquitous GANGANS.