Tag Archive | drumming

Harlem Magic

Jul28

A really good friend of mine and I take Tai Chi on Saturdays in Harlem,  after which we walk around enjoying the sites, talking, listening to some type of live music at an ongoing mini festival (or as part of a parade), laughing.

It’s usually great fun, and we get to share about our lives, support one another concerning any current life challenges, catch up, plus just plain have fun engaging with others along the way.

I have to say, we thoroughly enjoy, even celebrate Harlem’s culture together and  it’s just magic.

In some ways it reminds me of Africa. The people are warm, connected, relaxed and cultural. But connected plus relaxed makes it stand apart with just that vibe alone (in NY). But I suspect that is because Harlem is steeped in history you can see all around you as you walk through.

So, Harlemnites sparkle with warmth and pride. They enjoy one another and you can enjoy them.

Today, we ended up at an African drumming circle.

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My friend is Cherokee but she loves all things African so we arrived, saged, sat and listened. But I thought, wow, only in NYC would you be at a drumming circle with Africans, African-Americans and a Native American, enjoying the vibes, drumming, the outdoors, and friendship.

And we arrived, to smiles. A silent and happy welcome. I’m sorry, but in no other borough.

And before that we had healthy wraps (we’re both health nuts) from a mom and pop that makes possibly the best wrap sandwich I have had in my life. And the servers were the same, relaxed, proud, connected!

Moving onto – the MEN.  Harlem has some of the most fabulous looking African men, out in full form, as they make business. My friend and I are always stunned, then giggly happening upon this.  She is alot less jaded than I, so she will find a way to  start up a conversation with them, about anything, then we get to engage (happily) for a few minutes.

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I just love it, because for me, there is nothing like a man who genuinely enjoys being a man and who genuinely enjoys the exchange with women in a grown up way.

Some people won’t know what I am talking about here, but when you are it, you know it, and when you experience it, you can tell it. Well, I’m very much a grown up who enjoys grown ups so this is always a treat for me.

And  it reminds you what “men” are like.

Ah, I just love Harlem and we are happier than bees in honey when there….

Africa’s Influence On The Rest (The Knife)

May10

This music video is so beyond to me. I love how this group has a group of men dancing a cultural dance that is typically performed by women. The awkwardness of their moves is actually unexpected thus engaging. Lol. But I also love how they continue the admiration by having this little girl in cornrows.

I don’t take it as appropriation either because the reference is so complete that anyone who has one iota of exposure to African culture will not miss it. Mostly because they haven’t tried to bury the art of the dance or the drummers. They simply mixed it, in my opinion, and it works beautifully.

Info about group:

The Knife are a Swedish electronic music duo from Stockholm, formed in 1999.[3] The group consists of siblings Karin Dreijer Andersson and Olof Dreijer, who together also run their own record company, Rabid Records. The group gained a large international following in response to their 2003 album Deep Cuts. The group and this specific album later received further attention when a cover of their song “Heartbeats”, rearranged for acoustic guitar by José González, appeared in a Sony commercial. Subsequent songs have appeared on a number of television shows.