South-Korean Traditional Drum Speaks to Nigeria

Rebecca Ejifoma

Jang-Gu Drum

 

In his quest to harvest a healthy cultural exchange between Nigeria and South-korea, Nigeria's finest theatre artiste, Isioma Williams has imported the Korean traditional culture of Jang-Gu in Lagos. 

 

His love for traditional drums gave him an insight into envisaging and fostering international relationship between the two countries with the project tagged 'Journey of the Jang-Gu Drum to Africa'. 

 

At a press briefing held at the NCAC National Theatre in Lagos, Isioma noted that the project would be in four segments including: a workshop, Jang-Gu Drumming Competition, Jang-Gu meets Bata and the introduction and teaching the Jang-Gu drum in neighbouring countries around Africa.

The traditional drum aficionado enthused that the workshop will help Nigerian drummers learn to play the Jang-Gu drum for three months, the contest will be for those who have perfected the act of the drumming. They will compete for a grand prize, which is the Jang-Gu drum.

While the traditional drum artiste enthused his experience in South-Korea and how her traditional drum spoke to him in the dew of the day.

“In my experience as a traditional drum musician, I have vast knowledge of the Nigerian traditional drum as well as some international traditional instruments. As a result of his participation in several cultural exchanges like the national theatre of South-Korea CPI 2013, I experienced the brilliant, amazing and eclectic Jang-Gu drum.”

Isioma expounded that the voice of the drum grappled his attention. “This drum and its drumming technique appealed to me so much so that it painted a semblance of my love for the Bata drums of the Yoruba culture.

According to him, he couldn’t conceal the influx of such sensation and reminiscences coupled with experience; hence, he decided to embark on the project. “This is simply to spread the vibes, connect not only to the African culture but also have a trans-cultural feel of music. ‘Journey of the Jang-GU Drum to Africa’ will aid traditional musicians from Lagos, Nigeria and across Africa to have the drum experience.”

The enthusiastic drummer upholds that the drum experience will expose young artists to various cultural, religious, geographic and socio-economic backgrounds.

The artist, who has organised and participated in several international cultural exchange programmes with countries like Ghana, South-Africa, Madagascar, Togo and Japan among others, lauded the SK government for the scholarship to visit and study in Korea.

Swiftly on the heel of this, the former Director of the Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria, Mr. Kwon Yong IK alongside his Assistant, Madam Meeyoun Jee, embraced the concept of cultural exchange, saying Nigeria has got a rich culture.

"Nigeria is a strong cultural nation with many ethnic group. Isioma is your country's strong cultural man. He is a proper cultural theatre artiste. It is hard to learn Jang-Gu in six months, but he did," he expressed.

Our cultural centre opened in Abuja in 2010. We shall continue to promote cultural exchange between Korea and Nigeria. This multicultural exchange is very vital. And I hope Nigerians will embrace the Korean culture."

He enthused that the exchange between he duo nations will help Nigeria as well as Korea economically. "Since Korea is a developed nation and Nigeria is developing, this move will increase the countries to be efficient."

Satiated with his arrival to Nigeria, Kwon said, "I arrived in Nigeria two months ago. I am happy to be here." Having listened to the prelude of Isioma's student's in the native drum ad songs, the Korean guests urged every youth present at the briefing to join in the Jang-Gu drum and feel the experience.