This next rhythm we’re looking at is called
the Gahu. It’s a rhythm from the Ewe people – I
learned it in Ghana, but the Ewe people sort of stretch across Ghana, Togo, Benin. It’s one of those things where the arbitrary
lines of the African countries don’t necessary mean anything. And it’s played on a different set of drums
from all the other rhythms we’ve looked at so far, it’s played on what’s called
the Ewe Set. The way this rhythm works is quite different
from all the other rhythms. It’s all played with sticks, so it’s a
good one to practise your stick technique, also it keeps changing. So it’s not like the other rhythms where
there’s just, like, a few support parts keeping everything down and then a set of
solos on the top.
Every time the lead drum plays a solo, which
corresponds to a dance, the support parts change. – Learn how to play djembe and other African
drumming with African Drumming Online.