Participants in a janggu drum workshop perform with traditional percussion instruments from both Korea and Nigeria on Apr. 12 at the Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria.
Korean traditional janggu drums have brought fun and excitement to Nigeria.
A special performance was held in Lagos, the most populous Nigerian city, that brought together traditional Korean janggu drums and traditional Nigerian percussion instruments. The event featured janggu drums and then about ten different Nigerian musical instruments, such as the sato, the bembe, the agogo, the sakara, the sekere and the odo. It was a performance that connected the sounds of both Korea and Nigeria.
Director Han Sungrae of the Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria poses for a photo with participants in the janggu drum workshop after delivering his words of encouragement.
The performers showcased the harmonious sounds of Korean and Nigerian traditional music. They were students who studied under musician and janggu instructor Isioma Williams. Williams first fell in love with the traditional Korean hourglass-shaped drum in 2013 when he took part in a Cultural Partnership Initiative at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul.
Instructor Isioma Williams teaches how to play the traditional janggu drum during a workshop at the Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria. He plans to form a group of local Nigerian musicians to perform traditional Korean music.
After returning to Nigeria, Williams started a workshop to teach traditional janggu drumming techniques, thanks to support from the Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria (KCCN).
After the recent performance, he said, “I'm so amazed that percussion instruments from both Korea and an African country can create such wonderful sounds on stage. I will learn other traditional Korean musical instruments and work further to form a drumming team here in Nigeria, just like the samulnori percussion troupes in Korea.”
By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria (KCCN)
arete@korea.kr
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