I inherited drumming from my father
By Bamidele Kolawole
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Talking drum is widely considered to be one of the oldest instruments in West Africa, it was mainly used by West African griots, who still exist today as storytellers preserving the oral tradition and history of their villages and families.
Kazeem Lawal, a.k.a Kazeem Ayan explained in an interview with Friday Extravaganza how he was motivated by his father to beat talking drums.
Lawal who has been drumming professionally for 18 years said that he inherited the job from his father and it has been part of him, saying he love doing the job.
According to him, drumming is the source of his income that puts food on his table and to take care of his family.
In his words, drum business has taken him so far, and enabled him to sit and dine with kings.
He noted that talking drums is part of improving their culture, saying that the white people are coming from their country to learn the job from them.
Lawal noted that the love and the passion he has for the job made him to do exploits in all his endeavours.
The drummer said that he sees himself going higher in the job as a great drummer in life.
The graduate of Civil Engineering from Osun State Polytechnic, Ire, said he has been drumming since when he was in the primary school.
He mentioned some of challenges he encountered since he has been into this job to include people are not recognising them and they called them baggers.
