This article was originally published by The Emancipator.
During uncertain and stressful times, joy can seem like a distant memory or something to be put on hold until life improves. But the truth is, joy isn’t just a reward for making it through tough moments — it’s a source of strength that helps us endure them.
I find joy in creativity and community. Coming together with others to create something meaningful brings me happiness and has played a role in my healing. One of my most cherished sources of joy and renewal is African drumming.
West African drumming has been a steady rhythm in my life since I was a college freshman in the early 1970s. I was first introduced to it as an art form by Nigerian master drummer Babatunde Olatunji, who helped popularize African drumming in America during his teaching residency at Kent State University.
From that moment, I was hooked. At the time, I was too intimidated to play what Baba called his “talking drums,” but I found joy in simply listening and moving my body to the powerful rhythms he would channel from his homeland to my heart.
Years later, I finally found the courage to learn how to play — starting with the djembe, then the dunduns, and most recently, the log drum or krin. For me, drumming is not about achieving perfection; it is about protecting my peace. The feeling of my hands giving voice to my instruments is beyond what my words can express.
While African drumming brings me immense joy, it would be a mistake to objectify the instrument by reducing it to mere entertainment. In the West, it is often viewed as a performance art, but in Africa, drumming has long been woven into the fabric of everyday life. And contrary to what many Westerners mistakenly believe, drums are not the only traditional African instruments.
There is an enormous variety of musical instruments on the continent, but I would argue that drums are among the most powerful. Long before the disruption of European colonization, drums served as vital tools for communication, cultural expression, and healing across many sub-Saharan African societies.
They were an early form of “technology,” carrying messages across great distances. The Yoruba people of Nigeria, for example, used the “talking drum” to mimic the tonal nuances of their language. In many other societies, drumbeats transmit messages about celebratory events or warn about danger looming. Drumming is a tradition in ancestral venerations and healing rituals.
The power of the drum
Drumming, whether I am playing alone or within a collective circle, is both relaxing and restorative. It is a grounding force that connects me to culture, ancestry, and something greater than myself.
Whether I am caught up in the entrancing heartbeat of Nyabinghi or revived by the upbeat of Kuku, drumming liberates me from the stress of high-pressure workdays and the weight of societal burdens. Drumming gave me space to exhale.
Not everyone in my professional circles understood my love for African drumming. Some, including my best friend Yolanda, saw it as an eccentric hobby — an offbeat, not-quite-respectable fit for a news journalist.
Yolanda and I were both career journalists, consumed by the relentless pressure of reporting, writing, and meeting tight deadlines. What Yolanda didn’t realize was that drumming wasn’t just a source of joy for me — it was my frustration manager.
Whenever I felt the inappropriate urge to “lay hands” on the job, my drums became my refuge. They were sturdy instruments of stress relief and built to take a beatdown.
I still remember Yolanda’s reaction when I told her I’d be playing drums at a wedding. She was convinced I had lost my mind. Carefully measuring her words, as if to keep me from spiraling any further, she tried to reason with me over the phone.
“Jones, you-are-a-wri-ter, not-a-drum-mer,” she said.
“A writer!”
Amused but unbothered by her teasing, I stuck with my wedding gig. I knew that in time, Yolanda would make peace with my passion — we were cool like that.
Joy is a radical act of self-preservation
Research has long supported the idea that engaging in joyful activities, like music, laughter, and even drumming, has a profound effect on our mental health. Studies have shown that rhythmic drumming reduces stress, enhances mood, and even boosts the immune system.
Dr. Bruce Perry, a leading neuroscientist in trauma recovery, emphasizes that rhythmic activities like drumming help regulate emotions, particularly for individuals who have experienced prolonged stress or adversity.
In group settings, drumming fosters connection and a sense of belonging — something Black women deeply need as we navigate a world that often demands too much from us.
As much as I love drumming, it is not for everyone. Others may find their joy in something different, like expressive writing, storytelling, painting, dancing, or singing. Whatever source you choose, activate and keep it close.
Finding your joy, especially during challenging times, is not a luxury; it is a radical act of self-preservation.
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