Amongst the first words I ever uttered was the Farsi phrase “das das”. It literally means “hand hand” and was accompanied by repeated simultaneous clapping movements – das das, das das – an endless source of entertainment and distraction when Bibi, my paternal grandmother who I lived with, played with me in this way. Later on Bibi told me that back in Persia she had played a kind of tambourine, so there was more than a percussive streak running in her veins.
I’ve gathered together some photographs I’ve taken over the least few years of musicians – singers, percussionists and drummers from the Afro-Cuban Scene – in the process of clapping whilst singing.
Below, Dreiser Durruthy Bombalé, teaching at a song and percussion workshop:
Daniela Rosselson De Oshun leading a song at a London Lucumi Choir rehearsal:
Percussionist Collette Boardman:
David Pattman:
Gerardo de Armas singing rumba:
Vicky Jassey in the foreground and Ines Loubet Franco to her left:
Martha Galarraga aka Martica leading a song at the Afro-Cuban Music Night:
Adé Egun Crispin Robinson:
