This is a performance (cleaned up version of an earlier vid that had horrid sound) of a rhythm called Adzrowo that I learned during an extended stay in the Volta Region of Ghana. My first teacher was Godwin Agbeli (now passed) and then his sons Emmanuel, Rubin, and Victor (along with half the other youth in the village!) This version of the rhythm is as it is played in their village, and like many rhythms it's probably a bit different elsewhere.
The group here is Akoma, which was founded by Josselyne Price in the late 90's. They were originally graduate/undergraduate students from the University of Washington who wanted to play West African music as an independent study course/ensemble. Now the group still exists under the direction of an amazing Ashanti drummer named Yaw Amponsah, who is the son of famed palm wine guitarist Koo Nimo.
This version of Adzrowo includes a few different call/response patterns between the lead drum (atsimevu) and response drums (kidi and sogo). What's missing is the song, clapping, and amazing dance that always accompanies music from this culture.
Tags: world music drum drumming ghana west Africa Ewe adzrowo kidi kagan sogo
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