Liu's first student, Xiao Min, has been playing African drums for three years. Through the drum party, she met her boyfriend, who was also a famous player in the circle.

"We shared a lot of similarities," she says, explaining their initial attraction. "We both love untampered, natural things, which I think is also a common sentiment among all djembe fans. We all love African culture."

At the drum party, friends are made from all walks of life. Many take it as a great opportunity to expand their social circle.

According to her, even though the activity is a high-energy one, most Chinese djembe fans are otherwise shy and introverted. "Usually they seem very quiet, but when they begin playing the drums, everyone goes crazy," she says with a laugh.

Bai Jie, a 38-year-old who wears his hair in Jamaican-style dreads, believes that playing djembe gradually changes introverts' personalities. "You have to get used to communicating with different people here," he says. "Sometimes you need courage to play solo in front of others. That poses a big challenge for shy guys. But they will be able to face bigger [challenges] in life after getting through this."

Despite being a skillful player, Bai says that skills are not paramount for the Houhai circle. People are allowed to play in their own way. The different styles of drumbeats fuse into an unparalleled rhythm, he explains, and that's what makes African drumming so appealing.

"No one likes to play the drum alone," he says. "The most fascinating part of drum music is the interaction with others. [It's] a delight."

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Percussive pilgrimage

Five years ago, Tian Yang was the owner of a clothing store. A big fan of R&B and rap music, Tian also sold foreign CDs in his shop. He indulged in listening to music daily, but never dreamed he could be a musician himself.

That changed in 2006. While at a music festival, Tian saw djembe in action for the first time. "Several guys were sitting on the grass playing the instruments during a break. They were so hilarious, playing this cool-looking drum," he recalls. "I didn't know name of the instrument, but I told myself, 'I'm gonna do this.'"

Three years later he was a skilled drummer. He then founded the first African drum club in Beijing, renting out the basement of an office building for his djembe headquarters.

At first, the club was just supposed to provide a place for djembe fans to drum and have fun together. But after the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, more people began coming by, and the club started offering courses on Saturday afternoons. Anyone interested in djembe could join for free.

Most students are between 25 and 35 years old and overworked at their jobs. Drumming helps them to vent their anxiety. "Many people come, and most leave with a pleasant experience. But only those who really love African music will stay," says Tian.

Tian has shut down his clothing store. He now has an African drum band, and works as a professional musician. Growing in profile, the band plays at many festivals and has appeared on various TV programs.

"Although African drum is still of minority interests in China, I can see a bright future," Tian says confidently. He's especially excited about his own future. An African friend advised him to spend time on the African continent to improve his drumming. Next year, he will spend six months there, studying at a school founded by African drumming masters.

Talking about the upcoming journey, he says, "It's like a pilgrimage."