the drumming circle

OGBONI HARAMBEE DRUMMING CIRCLE AND PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE

The LWAAAC Ogboni Harambee Drumming Circle and Percussion Ensemble was founded in 2022 by Janis Jones, Carl Major, and Glenda Clay. The Ensemble has grown into a collection of LWAAAC members who share a love for the rhythms of African music. Most Ensemble members have little or no musical performing background. However, under the tutelage of the Elders Janis, Carl and Glenda, they have quickly developed their skills with one of the many African instruments.

So what does the Ogboni Harambee Drumming Circle and Percussion Ensemble mean? Yes, it’s a mouthful. So, let’s break it down.

Ogboni is a West African term that literally means "an elder".

Harambee is a Kenyan tradition of community self-help. It means “all pull together” in Swahili.

Drumming is a broad category of percussion instruments sounded by being struck with sticks or hands. They come in many shapes but are typically cylindrical, barrel-shaped, or bowl-shaped with a taut membrane over one or both ends.

Circle is traditionally how the drummers position themselves during performances. Why a circle? Because in a circle, there is no head or tail. The performers share the rhythm and get in tune with each other and themselves.

Ensemble in this case is a group of musicians who regularly perform together.

So now you know. Feel free to refer to the group as The Drumming Circle.

Meetings

The Drumming Circle meets on Sundays at 3:oo pm, Club House II, Edmonson Room. No prior music experience required, only the desire to learn.

Contact:

Jan Jones
Carl Major
Rev. Glenda Clay

The elders

Jan Jones

Rev. Glenda Clay

Carl Major

Jan is a retired Montgomery County music teacher with over 40 years of experience teaching music to the county’s younger children. Jan also assisted the county’s music teachers in developing their lesson plans. Some instruments in her collection were purchased in Africa by her students and gifted to her.

Carl Major

Rev. Glenda Clay

Carl Major

Carl has been involved with drum circle for many years and was mentored by Drum Master Baba Baile. He has a vast collection of African drums that are used to teach the members the many intricacies of drum rhythms.

Rev. Glenda Clay

A retired Prince George’s county teacher and music director, Glenda is also an accomplished composer. In fact, one of her arrangements has been performed at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Here in Leisure World, Glenda currently directs the Interfaith Chapel Gospel Choir and assists the drum circle in merging traditional songs that accompany the drum music.

Ashiko

Talking Drum

The Ashiko is played throughout sub-Saharan Africa. It is a low-sounding, cone-shaped drum with a goatskin head. The ashiko, kpanlogo, and bougarabou share the same playing technique as the djembe.

Talking Drum

This is a type of drum that uses an hour glass shaped drum shell with drum heads mounted on each end and tensioned together with rope or leather straps.

Djembe

Kettle Drum

The Djembe is a hand drum from West Africa that is made from a solid wood shell, goatskin drum head, metal hoops and rope (for high tension tuning).

Kettle Drum

The kettle drum is a very large, semicircular brass drum with hide stretched over the top and held in place with string.

the drumming circle

OGBONI HARAMBEE DRUMMING CIRCLE AND PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE

Meetings

The elders

Jan Jones

Rev. Glenda Clay

Carl Major

Carl Major

Rev. Glenda Clay

Carl Major

Rev. Glenda Clay

Rev. Glenda Clay

Rev. Glenda Clay

2024 Kwanzaa Day Celebration

african drums

Ashiko

Talking Drum

Talking Drum

Talking Drum

Talking Drum

Talking Drum

Djembe

Kettle Drum

Kettle Drum

Kettle Drum

Kettle Drum

Kettle Drum