West African Drummers: Spirit Beat Drummers at TEDxGreenville

Spirit Beat is a percussive ensemble playing instruments and music from the traditions of West Africa. The music is part of an oral tradition passed down through generations. The group was formed in April 2000 with the mission of learning traditional West African rhythms and sharing our knowledge in the community through classes and performances.
Spirit Beat's performances are composed of a mix of drumming, singing, and dancing, and always invite interaction. The group performs for a wide variety of events, including festivals, community celebrations, fundraisers, and worship services.
Spirit Beat Drummers are Piri Molnar, Keith Mundis, Susan Natale, Jana Sains, Lillian Taylor, Caroline Quinn, Page Rogers and Ben Weston.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@ndonuetakwi3463]

good job guys respect from cameroon

[@Rasta-yc4ch]

No one in the group is obviously a native of Africa... and they did a great job.

[@PREKESEGhanaMedia]

Good job.

[@Rasta-yc4ch]

Whats the hollow drum beat in the background called. It starts at 0:10 seconds

[@monnalisa3439]

Like СпАСИБО!

[@ralfstiller6662]

nice

[@gabrielliaclinton7515]

wow

[@EmpressfromNy]

Love the beat ❤️

[@gretchenfrancis5678]

if you hear this played by actual Africans then you know how wrong this sounds and is.

[@developny8057]

WRONG!!! on so many levels.

[@gearybeanforbes608]

Yes this feels empty because the performance has not drawn from the ancestors, which, from the outside looking in is IMPOSSIBLE!!!

[@aginggracefully1391]

😕😪😭

[@jonasheimbecker2025]

White white

[@lastnato]

News

[@spiritosa0123]

So only people of African descent can dare to play instruments from that culture? Perhaps they are not so good, but perhaps you could think of it as trying to honor the heritage rather than trying to dismantle it or disrespect it. I seriously doubt anyone taking up African drumming or dancing wishes to disrespect those traditions.

[@developny8057]

Yes, they are trying to disrespect those traditions the way they have done so for centuries and continue to do so while they steal everything and kill off all the heirs.

[@rolomuir8441]

I know plenty of white djembe masters who play alongside and teach at places like the world renowned drum camp in UK

[@marsthatdamnrebel]

Sometimes White Americans need to stop arguing with people of color and LISTEN for a while. Yes, there are white experts in djembe who studied directly with the African djembe masters. But they are not doing TED Talks speaking FOR the culture, tradition, art, community. Unless these people are here to talk about their ADMIRATION of not only these traditions but also THE PEOPLE WHO CREATED AND BREATHED it, they have no business being labeled as West African Drummers.

[@rehemankisi3551]

Why not spend that effort n investment to get visas or change the visa shituation so those that do this beautiful drumming might be able to represent themselves n teach other Africans their own heritage which we were brutally denied.
These children have never heard the true drumming. Shame if this is their intro.

[@ioodyssey3740]

@@rolomuir8441 yeah and you don't hear them here!

[@sadied.4813]

This feels empty

[@bakayad3196]

This has made me so F'ing angry. The boldness and disrespect as to label this as "West African Drummers: Spirit Beat Drummers" - No soul, no rhythm, no feeling - That' s what happens when you try to appropriate other culture's heritage without understanding it's true meaning, spirituality and nature. Anyone can hit a drum, but only through the ancestors can a Djembe by understood and played.

[@honeyspoonbeewrangler4550]

We are all ONE!!

[@Tox_sickle22]

Not so bad.

[@lizbethbrady8308]

As a Jamaican. This is completely off beat. Don't feel it at all

[@djreid88]

The caucasity.

[@lorineedwards8985]

copy cats

[@MorkVOrk]

Ohhh weija, da schlafen einem ja die die Füße ein. Zum Glück haben sich die Trommel Techniken die letzte Jahre weiterentwickelt und weiße Frauen wurden bei solchen Veranstaltungen verboten. ;-)

[@chungleezy3227]

Wtf?

[@g.gg.g4539]

So outta sync, gotta give white folks credit though