Kasiva Mutua: How I use the drum to tell my story | TED

"Listen.

Do you hear that?"

my grandmother asked me.

"Listen.

Listen to what the beetle is saying."

I would spend hours and hours listening to the little beetle

rolling a huge ball of dung,

and while at it,

I heard a variety of environmental sounds.

With the keenest of ears, I would hear family chatter,

laughter,

the wind howling

and even crickets chirping.

All these sounds crisscrossed into each other,

and I would hear rhythm in between.

Then I would beat my plate with a spoon and my chest with my tiny hands

trying to recreate what I was hearing.

I have been beating the same plates,

shakers, drums, pans and so much more ever since

to become a professional drummer

and percussionist.

(Applause)

As I grew up, subconsciously,

I felt a strong urge to hide my newfound hobby.

Even without it being said out loud,

I knew that somehow it was wrong to do what I was doing.

In most of the ceremonies,

I noticed that most of the women and girls were not in sight,

but when they were,

I noticed that they would wear their dancing skirts

and shake their waists off,

singing, clapping, ululating,

while the men filled up the rhythm section.

A few years later, I came to understand

what tradition and culture meant,

and what was considered taboo

or otherwise.

In the majority of African cultures,

women have been forbidden to play drums and percussion

for a very long time.

I believe this taboo stems from the psychological and traditional belief

that the woman is an inferior being.

I grew up hearing that the place of the woman is in the kitchen

or in the other room.

Mhm?

(Laughter)

Women had been brainwashed and led on for so long

until we had fallen victim and actually started believing in this ourselves.

This, coupled with the lack of interest to educate women,

played a major, major role

in etching this into our minds.

The sounds of the drum provoke emotion and movement.

Essentially, the drum is a very sensual instrument.

Once at a festival, a man asked me

how I dared put a drum in between my legs.

I have been considered loose and dirty for playing an instrument.

I have repeatedly been questioned

why I would choose to play drums

instead of practicing journalism,

which I studied for my undergraduate,

which has been termed "more decent."

The sight of a woman playing drums enfeebles her,

makes her less feminine,

less desirable,

but all this optimally puts her on a lower social stand.

Drumming has essentially represented the strong African heritage,

and its importance can be seen

in the many aspects of the African tradition.

Many communities encompass drumming in their day-to-day activities,

and still do up to date,

from childbirths to initiation ceremonies,

welcoming ceremonies,

marriages and even burials.

However, this same drum

is disappearing very fast from the music scene,

and the traditional genre is losing its popularity

very quickly amongst the people.

Inspired by the need to preserve this culture,

I am teaching the significance and the importance of the drum

to young boys, women and girls.

In my journey as a percussion teacher,

I have realized that very many women

actually want to play the drum,

but at the same time,

they fear it.

Some fear how society will perceive them.

Others fear the physical pain that comes with playing.

Oh yes, it's not that easy.

Some, because their spouses don't approve of them,

and others generally fear the responsibility

of being a bearer of culture.

I believe, or I think that all these fears

are etched in the collective feminine cautiousness

because when we learn of the atrocities that have happened to women,

continentally especially,

it serves as a constant reminder

that one step out of our designated place

may end up in very serious consequences.

Well, I use my drum to tell my story and my people's stories.

My roots shaped me and my culture is here to stay with me.

Women can be custodians of culture, too.

We are born to bring forth life,

to nurture it.

We can definitely preserve our traditions very, very excellently.

My drum and I,

we are here to stay.

(Applause)

We are definitely here to stay.

If women have led countries,

women have gone to space,

women have won Grammys,

then the same, same women can play the drum

and play it -- to a five-star rating?

No, to a million-star rating.

Thank you.

(Applause)

(Chiming)

(Metallic drumming)

(Chiming)

(Rattling)

(Drumming)

(Applause)