Feature July 30, 2020
A Gumbe Photo Essay
This is a photo essay of the travels behind our program "The Gumbe Story," a surprising tale of a square/rectangular frame drum and its music that begins with the Maroons in Jamaica, travels to Sierra Leone (via Halifax, Nova Scotia!) in 1800 and eventually reaches 17 African countries, including Ghana and Mali.
All photos by Banning Eyre (2019) unless otherwise indicated.
Accompong Town, Jamaica (Maroons)
Accompong Gumbe - Edwin Peddie (1991) (photo by K Bilby)
Accompong Gumbe - George Huggins at his workshop (1991) (photo by K Bilby)
Accompong Gumbe - George Huggins' workshop (1991) (photo by K Bilby)
Freetown, Sierra Leone
The Maroon Church in Freetown
Tabenu Cultural Group
Sabanoh Cultural Group
Reuben and Grace Koroma (Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars)
We Yone Cultural Group
Jollay, a gumbe-related style popular in Sierra Leone
Member of Dr. Oloh's Milo Jazz Band, displaying seated gumbe drum
Dr. Oloh's Milo Jazz Band (musical saw and gumbe drum)
Accra, Ghana
Ken Bilby and John Collins (first face-to-face after decades of friendship!)
Charles Edzi Konu and Ken Bilby
Tema All Stars (Daniel Alabi Derby's band) (photographer not known)
Charles Kwame Edzi Konu and Worlali Konu of Hewale Sounds
Worlali Konu
Ni Tettey Leno Tetteh of Kusun Cultural Group
Wulomei
Shadey Dance Ensemble (Kolomashi music)
Segou, Mali
Daouda Doumbia, percussionist for Goumbe Dyiri
Moussa Coulibaly
Goumbe Dyiri
