A drummer shares lessons from studying with Babatunde Olatunji, arguing that rhythm heals across cultures like medicine. He calls for activism through drum, dance, and chants to counter greed, and introduces a segment on justice.
—That's a great experience. In 1955, a guy named Babatunde Olatunji introduced a new kind of music to the American scene. He was to become my drum teacher. I sat with Olatunji Baba, and he said wonderful wonderful things. He said, "The only person you should get even with is someone who's done you a good turn." He said, "I am the drum. You are the drum. We are the drum. Play it as you say it. Rhythm is the soul of life. The whole universe revolves in rhythm. Everything and every human action revolves in rhythm." It was he who said, Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today, today is a gift. That's why we call it the present. I am that I am. I am beauty. I am peace. I am joy. I am one with Mother Earth. I am one with everyone within the reach of my voice. In this togetherness, we ask the Divine Intelligence to eradicate all negatives from our hearts, from our minds, and from our actions. And so be it. The Creator wants us to drum. He wants us to corrupt the world with drum and dance and chants. After all, we have already corrupted the world with power and greed, which hasn't gotten us anywhere. Now is the time to corrupt the world with drum, dance, and chants. In itself, healing is an explosive expression of humanity. It is something we're all touched by, no matter what culture we're from. Everyone loves music. George Eliot said, "There is no feeling, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find relief in music." Oliver Sacks: "The power of music to integrate and cure is quite fundamental. It is the profoundest non-chemical medication." So music carried me right on through to California. So I'm going to go into Justice for Buds. So even though the music dies down, let it continue inside. Feel the rhythm that's still inside you.
