Video summary
The video features a performance by Team RAD, a drumming group based in Bangalore, celebrating India's 80th year of independence through a vibrant community drum circle event at apidays India 2026. The team introduces its members and explains their mission to share rhythms originating from West Africa, aiming to bring the music into every aspect of life for the participants. They begin by showcasing specific rhythms such as Kasuro, which is deeply rooted in agricultural life and used to motivate farmers, and Teule, a piece composed by a master drummer specifically for his wife, a traditional dancer. The atmosphere is energetic and inclusive, with the performers encouraging audience members to join in regardless of their prior experience, emphasizing that the session is about community connection rather than competition.
A significant portion of the presentation is dedicated to educating the audience on proper drumming techniques to ensure safety and produce the best sound. The instructors provide detailed instructions on hand placement, stressing that bone joints must never strike the drum surface to prevent injury, and instead, the impact should come from the fleshy part of the palm below the joint. They also demonstrate how holding the drum between the thighs or knees alters the resonance compared to placing it flat on the floor, which results in a dull sound. The session covers the three fundamental sounds of the djembe—the bass, tone, and slap—and guides participants through mastering the bass and slap techniques. This instructional approach ensures that even beginners can play safely and effectively while understanding the mechanics behind the instrument's unique acoustics.
As the event progresses, the group transitions into a call-and-response format to teach new rhythms and songs, fostering a sense of unity and shared experience. Participants learn a West African-style song called Lupanga, which carries a profound message about coming together as a community with good intentions, celebrating togetherness, and promoting harmony. The energy in the room builds as the group synchronizes their drumming and singing, moving from individual practice to collective performance. The session culminates in an invitation for everyone to dance, blending the West African rhythms with Indian musical sensibilities to create a memorable fusion that honors both cultures. The event concludes with a warm thank you to the organizers and an invitation for attendees to join the local Bangalore Drum Collective community for future jam sessions, reinforcing the idea that music is a universal language accessible to all.
Read the full video transcript
Ladies and gentlemen, sorry for the
delay, but it was important.
Well, at the outset and on the account
of our 80th year of independence and
freedom,
John, you would like to say a little
hello to you before we do. All right,
here we go.
That's that was from
and now this is from us.
Well, we are team RAD.
is based in Bangalore itself and we are
basically a drum
coming group
performing in Bangalore for quite some
time for quite a few many years
so just to introduce my team we have
Navin on the day we have Mala on the day
and we have sirly known as s on the tund
So we've been involved with for long
time and we are really looking forward
to presenting a little to you in the
next few minutes. Thank you so much.
So we'll be just traversing through some
groups and some rhythms which are
basically from West Africa. You see from
North
South
and
a couple of groups to go with. So just
to make it more interesting
open it up which you will hear in the
next few minutes. Thank you for
Heat. Heat.
Hey,
hey, hey.
Heat. Heat.
up.
Hey
Come
back.
Here.
Power.
Heat
up
here.
Well, this was just a group to get the
going. We will be sharing two practical
rhythms to you.
The first rhythm is called Kasuro.
Now Kasuro has it origin.
It's basically a way of life for the
Africans where they share their
music in every aspect of their life. Now
is focused towards farming for the
farmers agriculture agricultural reason
to enhance
or to motivate the farmers to keep doing
what they're doing at every stage. So
just the group is very very you can
imagine I want you to imagine farmer
farmers working in the field. All right.
Now this is a frog. It's called a frog.
It takes a bit for use in African
rhythm.
Heat. Heat.
Count
down.
Black
written how many couples are here
couples here want to be couples
in progress couples
okay this is
the reason I'm saying this I would like
dancing to please come forward
come don't be s come
anyone just come
Don't come on.
This is not a competition. Just come and
just move.
You're playing to African rhythm. Thank
you to African rhythm. Come on. And I'll
tell you why.
This rhythm is called
Teule.
It was composed by a master drummer for
his wife and his wife was a traditional
African dancer and they performed
together for the African crowd.
So imagine husband
wife and dancer and they perform as part
of their problem. So don't get too
serious.
Come on. Come on.
Oh, lovely. This is amazing. We just
and we gentlemen from
this is a blessing.
Talk about coincidence, ladies and
gentlemen. Talk about coincidence. I
mean this this is not just a
coincidence.
So happy to meet you sir.
Brilliant. Please can you also encourage
these people to come and dance?
You will enjoy this. Trust me.
>> You're a gentleman from here and we have
two written from you just one. How was
that? Is it good? We have
so much. Thank you so much.
This is a blessing. It's an honor to
meet you and you know
endorsement ever gentleman first
endorsement.
I'm sure you got this live in Guinea
right
from African dramas in Guinea and he
says good
so happy.
Come on guys. What are you doing? Come
on. Come on.
just
go to a disco
but through the
come
only two people here join them come
no dance
even you come he we Seriously,
I said
I met you. Come
on, ladies and gentlemen.
Come on. Come on.
Come on. Come
on.
Lovely. Lovely.
You have the perfect ide
Anyone
else?
Please come.
I think just for a few moments come come
ladies. Come on. Come on. Come on. You
have a great time. Trust me. Just a few
moments. I'm not asking you to dance for
one hour.
Come.
Few moment. Sink.
Okay.
So this is for composed as I mentioned
by master drummer who composed for his
wife traditional
African dancer and two days from master
to his wife.
What is
that?
pretty.
Hey, hey, hey.
Heat.
That's
Heat. Heat.
Data.
Hey
Heat. Heat.
In few minutes, we'll be having what we
call a gun. going to be inviting you to
play with us. You will soon receive your
drums in a matter of few minutes. Thank
you so much.
Ladies and gentlemen,
as you receive your drums before we
begin the drum circle,
if you ask me one question, how many
have never played a drum before your
hands up?
quite a few. Great.
No worries. I just give you a short
intro on how you know based on your
whether you're a lefty or a righty how
you instrument when you play a gun right
how should the placement be because a
wrong placement can hamper your hand if
you don't want it happened to people in
the past in Bombay in Bangalore who have
attended drums or two and they didn't
know how to play they played in a wrong
man and they end up injuring their hand.
So we don't want that.
So this is what I do at every session. I
always know instruct people on how to
play.
Now we have our joints.
We have our finger joints here and here.
No part of the drum should this or this.
Your joint
now.
Never never bend your palm. Always
stretch.
Fingers should go upwards. Why is that
important? Because this forces
left on your palm
that should have an impact on your drum,
not the joint. Please, I'm repeating
again. Your bone joint should not hit
the drum at all.
the impact.
Now we have two substances when you play
the center of whether you play with your
left or whether you play with your
right. All right.
Now this
is a very wholesome sound. Now this is
this is a
but wholesome sound.
And your drums have to be kept between
your
between your thighs or your leaves,
whichever you're comfortable with.
There was a sound
from here.
This is where the sound escaped from. If
you keep it dead on the floor, you will
not be able to hear anything. You'll
hear a flat sound
there. You see the moment you keep it
between your thighs or your knees the
palm changes.
All right.
So again
whether you're playing with your right
hand or your left hand at center
depending on how comfortable you are.
All right.
You listen to me and then we going to
play for a while. Enjoy yourself. Don't
worry, just pay attention. Very
important.
No
bone joint
never on the bone. All right. Below the
bone joint, that's where the impact
should be. So that is for the bone.
This is the
dead center. Dead center is boom. The
other hand Depending on whether you're
staying like this or this
the other hand now we finish with one
hand the other hand same concept same
concept this
you get your
Make sure the B does not
because that's what the All right, just
bear this in mind. Very important.
So we have the B and we have the
boom.
All right.
swing and start.
Just be very careful where the impact is
happening. Be very careful. Okay?
Because when you play when you play
fast, you don't realize where the hand
is going. I don't touch the phone, your
hand is going to hurt.
I guarantee it.
So please bear this in mind.
Irrespective of whether you're playing
the orb,
the thumb and the
This is the left hand, the boom and the
clear. Has everyone got this?
The is on the edge. All right. But make
sure the edge doesn't hit the board.
That's it. Just make sure it is quite
clear below where the flex is, where the
muscle is.
All right.
Is this clear?
Yes, please.
Yes.
Yes. I can't hear you.
Any any confusion?
Yeah.
All right. Now, little moment of
silence, please. Yeah.
We are about to start the circle. All
right.
Our purple one circle
will be left by
he's been with for a very long time and
he's conducted circles for them.
So I'll take it up. The hand movements
are clear now.
All right.
Imagine no impact on the bone. Please
no. Absolutely not. All right.
Now I'll clean this and
thank you.
Good evening everyone.
Wow, I know my voice powerful. With one
second I made it sound new, right? Okay.
Good evening everyone.
>> I can't hear you. Good evening.
>> Okay. So, when are you having sitting in
the hall for the presentation?
>> Thank you. Thank you so much.
>> Eight or nine?
Okay. So it's been what uh more than
less than 12 hours close to 12 hours
right okay so we last 30 minutes we were
performing and I saw many of you are
enjoying so
fantastic did you feel like playing with
us
yeah and that's why you have this
beautiful instrument with you uh I hope
everyone got the drum everyone who got
the drum please raise your hand
okay thank You people who did not get
the drums I think you hand okay I think
uh people who are having drum whenever
your hands pain or whenever you feel
that staring is caring you can tear your
drums with your deli so that they also
get to enjoy it okay okay now everyone I
know you all are eagerly waiting I'll
give you 30 seconds 30 seconds you can
clear this drum however you want but you
could test if you're wearing ring
What? Please remove it. If those are
good and expensive, you can give it to
us on this stage.
Okay, just kidding. No rupees, please
remove your ring. Raise your hand.
Reason is for your safety. We don't want
your fingers to hurt. Okay.
Are you all with me?
Okay. I'm going to give you three. 1 2 3
seconds. You can play this how you want.
Okay, I think while they were
distributing the drum
team, he gave you this part of how to
play this drum. Before that, I would
like to ask how many of you are holding
this instrument for the first time?
Most of you I can write and sign on.
You're going to go back with a lot of
memories today. Are you ready for this?
Awesome. Now,
you need a better. So, you can contact
us. We will let you know how to
learn with this instrument. Now, let's
play together so that it sounds
beautiful.
How about that? I need one minute
without playing this song. Everyone
like this now. I know we all kids now
playing this. I don't want Okay. So,
this beautiful instrument is called
anyone
drum. Of course, what is the name of
this instrument?
Anyone else?
No.
Yes. It's called if you spell it for me.
Yes, you're right. It's eBay.
Okay.
This one is called
It's not like that. It's And this
instrument comes from West African
style. Okay. And today we are going to
have a beautiful drum circle which is
West African style drum circle which
means in this drum drum circle we'll
have a caller and a responder it is not
right. So you
responded. Yes, you're right. And in
this instrument there are three
alphabets which means so when you go to
a car what are the three alphabets? A B
C what is it?
Exactly. So to play this instrument you
need to know three alphabets which is
called B C. not behind the screen. It is
called bass, tone and flat. And we are
going to master two alphabets today so
that we all can play this instrument
beautifully which is B and F. Now B is
called B and it's in center part of this
drum.
Okay, I think you uh if you're not
comfortable keeping it between your
legs, you can hold the gentle like this
under your arm and you can throw it like
this. Okay, good. So, everyone now let's
master this right. It's in the center of
this beautiful instrument. Everyone with
me right
after me.
3 2
Yeah. A little more synchronization.
Left hand. 3 2
We're almost there. Right hand. 3 2
And once more with left hand. 3 2 1
Okay, you have master
and today already
you know what is it
before? Most of them
do it with
everyone.
Namaste. Now open your palm like this.
Bring it on the rim of your drum. R
your should be behind the rim of your
drum. Don't play. It is behind the rim
of your drum. And that sounds like
I can
look at
3 2 1
left.
Everyone should
have you can
the reason you have mastered two
beautiful aspects of this play and if
you know this you know 70% of this
instrument how to play the box and today
we're going to take you through multiple
instruments which are famous in
different parts of So basically this
rhythm we're going to go on a world tour
right and first we're going to land on a
beautiful rhythm called
it's also called
okay any shoulder fans here
very popular name right and any fans
here
you know this from the question
so this is called telescope or
it sounds Okay.
Good. Right. Let's learn how to play. a
combination of and left.
And
it goes
now
based on call and response. Now you all
do what I exactly asked you all to do.
Ready?
Hey
everybody,
hey
out
here.
Hello. Down.
Heat. Heat.
Keep coming.
Please
check out.
What's up?
Come on.
2
3
3.
Hey. Hey.
black.
Hey
Heat. Heat.
Amazing.
for you.
Okay, this rhythm was called.
Now to introduce you all to the next
rhythm, I would like to invite my
teammate, my friends, mother.
I think the museum is very popular in
people in Instagram might have heard
already
just
before the drum repeating
Boom.
Boom. Boom.
Boom.
Pick up
Right.
Pick it up.
2
Hey,
hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey,
hey, hey, hey, hey.
Heat. Heat.
Here we go.
Heat. Heat.
Another
hey
down.
Perfect.
Black.
Hey. Hey.
Okay, everyone. your palm.
Now look at your palm and say I'm
extremely sorry
and say I love you.
Yeah because it's hurting right? Okay
everyone now keep your right in front of
you and please stand
one arm distance.
Don't put
one arm. Now everyone bring your palm
hand front
turn towards your right
come forward. Keep the hands on your
shoulders on the shoulders. You can come
forward man. It's okay. Don't give
massage.
Okay. On the count of three massage.
Okay. 3 2 1 go.
Okay.
3 2 1 go.
Okay.
Okay. Now, thank you sir. Thank you.
Thank you. Yeah. Please be seated. Now
take your drum.
Okay. Now we enjoyed druming for some
time. Now let's give rest of hands for
few minutes. Okay. and let's start
singing.
Okay, when I say singing, it's not
Indian style. So we Indians today, we
are complimenting the West African style
song and the name is called Lupanga.
What is the name?
>> Lupanga. Yes, that we want. What is the
name?
>> Lupanga. So again, this will be based on
call and response. But I will sing the
first line and you all give me the
second line. And what is the second
line?
I'll tell you what the second line is.
And the song goes like,
okay, this is the first time the same
line. You repeat. Okay, with me.
Okay. Some energy, some happiness there.
I know the morning of the presentation,
but now it's time to show some energy.
Happiness, satisfaction, memory. Okay,
everyone. Energy.
In the night
I ever
kill I will kill the
Okay. Now you learn this song. What is
the meaning of this song?
Yeah. So this whole song means we all
come together as a community with good
thoughts, good intentions. We all
celebrate togetherness and unity. That's
the whole meaning of the song. And this
is the perfect moment to sing this song.
Okay. Now we got know what the meaning
is. Now we need to have a more energy
singing. Yeah.
I will ever
ne
I want another
In the night
in the night
I woke in the night.
In the night I woke in the night.
You want you can speak.
Okay.
Nanov.
Command
night.
Come on.
I was working on
Heat. Heat.
I know that.
I know.
I don't know.
Amazing.
Wasn't the perfect song for this woman?
Yeah. You all enjoyed it? Awesome.
Okay. Now I'm going to introduce you all
to another called
Okay. Sound is beautiful. The rhythm is
beautiful. Very groovy. So wherever you
are sitting, you can do you can play
this rhythm and enjoy. Okay. I'm going
to divide this rhythm into two parts.
Before that I'll make you hear how this
sounds like. Okay. 3 2 1 go.
Okay. So this is how the sound I'm going
to divide this into two part that you
can learn and play with. Okay. The first
part
are with me.
Okay. With me with me. I know you are
discussing something.
attention here for a few moments so that
you can enjoy. Okay, the first part with
me.
Okay, now the second part.
Two times and Okay.
Awesome. Awesome. Now the first step
again
is on the loop. Okay. Are you ready?
Yeah.
Okay. Let's go with it. 3 2 1 go.
Hey,
hey, hey.
Hey,
hey, hey.
Heat. Heat.
Hold it. So now we are completely
climax. Okay. Now how can we stop or end
an event if you're not complimenting our
own Indian? We play the sang a song and
what ending?
Dance. I heard it. Now everyone please
come forward to dance and end this day
with our Indian rhythms and Indian. Come
forward everyone. You can keep your drum
wherever it is. Please come forward for
this and let's enjoy
everyone. Everyone, I want everyone on
the go.
Okay. 3 2 1 Let's go.
Heat. Heat.
That's right.
Everybody
here.
Heat. Heat.
Thank you.
This is team
and we from team and a small
announcement. Thanks to the management
for inviting us today. I hope you all
had a great experience with RAD and uh
okay so RAD is an enabler and we also
have a community named Bangalore drum
collective called BDC and we do this
drum schedule around Bangalore. So if
you like this kind of community jamming
please feel free to join us and we our
Instagram page Bangalore drums
collective you can follow us
You can register, come join us and that
will be a memorable experience because
it's coming together right you can come
with your family friends and it's open
for everyone may not be expert in you
can be and you can come join us and play
together and have fun and you can also
give
on Google
and that's it thank you for having us
and hope you all had
Okay.
From Bangalore. We have Mr. Kirun.
We have
Chai.
We have on Chai.
My name is on.
Thank you so much. It's been a lovely
and amazing hotel.
Okay. Uh anyone who's willing to share
testimonials on how this was please come
forward. You would like to take a few
testimony that testimony.