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I learned to play talking drum myself as men refused to teach me, says Ara the drummer
Ara, the Nigerian drummer, has revealed that she learned how to play the talking drum by herself.
The self-acclaimed “queen of drums” spoke about her career in an interview with Channels TV.
She said she learned how to play the drums by watching the men perform, adding that they “refused” to teach her.
Ara said she listened to Nigeria’s veteran singers and learned how to play the drums to their sounds.
“I learned how to play the talking drum by watching the guys play because they refused to teach me. So I watched them play. I bought the music of people that I look up to in the industry,” she said.
“My father had a huge collection from Fela to Ayinla Omo Wura to Yusuf Olatunji to King Sunny Ade and everybody. So I learned to play with them.
“I listened to even Lagbaja when I was learning how to play because I love Lagbaja a lot. So I listened to all of their music and I trained my ear to listen differently and play differently.”
Ara is regarded as the foremost female drummer in Africa with a career that spans over two decades.
Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.
She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others
