Features 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