AFRICAN RHYTHM:Chinese having fun hitting the skins

There are a hundred ways to enjoy a weekend in Beijing. Strolling through fast-disappearing hutongs or sipping tea while pondering Chinese tranquility are tried-and-true methods. African drumming sessions, though, have also entered denizens' weekend repertoires.

Djembe, a drum fashioned from wood and goat hide, is becoming popular in China. In parks around major cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, people gather on a regular basis to play the percussion instrument.  

Beat beginnings

At 3:00 p.m. every Saturday, Houhai is filled with the sound of drumming. The lake area has always been a cultural hub in Beijing. Dozens of people slap out rhythms, singing in a language from another time and continent. Though few people understand the lyrics, everyone involved is excited to indulge in an African-style party.

One participant, He Ying, has just arrived back from a business trip. Work has kept him busy the last two months, and he hasn't been able to come to the lake as often as he would like. Especially since during this time his obsession with the instrument had grown. "Djembe is both simple and complex. It only has three tones, but these three can compose various rhythms," he explains. "It's amazing."

The voices and drumbeats echoing across the lakeside neighborhood raise attention of many passersby. Anyone wanting to join in is handed a drum by a young man named Liu Yong, the event's organizer.

With his humble smile and mild voice, Liu seems more like a quiet college kid than a wild music man. But he is the key figure in Beijing's African drum circle community. Liu graduated university with a major in piano, and now runs an instrument store in the Houhai area. Four years ago, he began selling drums imported from West Africa with the help of a friend working at an international trade company.

When asked about the business climate, Liu answers, "Bad," with a laugh. But as a drum-lover, he can't contemplate the idea of quitting. Fortunately, the demand for djembe drums has been increasing. More and more Beijingers are falling in love with the exotic instrument.

Liu began holding the Houhai parties in 2008. Anyone was welcomed to join. To attract more attendees, Liu promised to provide drums for free. Regardless of the weather, be it chilly winter or scorching summer, the event has never been canceled. Drummers have always turned up to participate.

He chalks his efforts up to wanting to have a good time, "I did this just for fun."

According to Liu, at present there are at least three drum groups around the city, with a hundred long-term members. And their numbers are increasing.

Wang Ge, a 47-year-old drummer, attributes the djembe fever to Chinese tradition. "Since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Beijing has opened its door to people from around the world," he explains. "We are used to embracing the new, and we are glad to import anything exotic."