By teaching djembe, M. Taylor, a biracial American male, has learned how others learn and understand. He has become a better communicator and more in tune with the fleeting nature of awareness. Whether or not you want to play djembe, this book will teach you the importance of practice-musical, spiritual, or otherwise-how to be in the present, and how to transcend who you are to become who the village needs you to be.
Djembe is an incredible teacher. What might it teach you?
IT IS OFTEN SAID WHEN THE STUDENT IS READY, THE TEACHER WILL COME.
That is how Taylor found answers about who he was, partially not knowing he sought them. The teachers came in the form of the West African djembe, a goblet-shaped drum, it's rich culture, music and dance, and the culture-bearers who bestowed upon Taylor its secrets, tradition, and life's rhythm.
In Remembering Your Ancestral Fire, Taylor shares how he first became fascinated by the djembe, his struggles and adventures in learning it, and how it led him to an incredible career as a promoter of West African music that has brought him to six continents and led him to teaching others of all ages and backgrounds.
Through this fascinating, personal, musical, and spiritual journey, Taylor shares stories about:
Life before the West African djembe entered his life
Why djembe entered his life
His numerous trips to Africa
The role of ancestors (his and others) in his life trajectory
His unique perspective from being biracial
The stories we tell ourselves that limit our perception
Taylor, Michael J.: - Michael J. Taylor, is biracial and more commonly known simply as 'Taylor', has been teaching, performing, doing storytelling and recording West African percussion since 1994. He authored the book "Remembering Your Ancestral Fire" in 2023. After beginning studies with Grand Master Drummer and founder of the Tam Tam Mandingue Djembe Academy Mamady Keita in 1999, he achieved the degrees of TTMDA Certified Teacher (2005) and was the first in the world to achieve the degree TTMDA Senior Certified Teacher (2006); he is the Director of TTMDA-Chicago. Through TTMDA he teaches and performs with and for youth ages 8-108. The founder and driving force behind Holy Goat Percussion, he imports, sells and repairs West African djembes and dununs. Additionally, he recorded all djembe parts on the Djembeföla! App for IOS and djembe parts with his group Kaben Kafo and Mamady Keita for some of the audio instructional tracks for Mamady Keita's book "Nankama". With the international corporate training company Sewa Beats USA, he is a Lead Facilitator. He is proud to be, in the words of Grand Master Drummer Mamady Keita, a "messenger of tradition" in representing TTMDA. Check 'djembist' on YouTube for video examples. He began drumming through theatre and has performed and/or taught djembe on every continent except Antarctica so far. In his work as a musician with the djembe he has put this traditional West African instrument in performance art, storytelling, contemporary music (jazz, classical, pop, folk, blues, etc.)The music of the West African djembe drum is part of the fabric of Mande culture; that area of the world that was once called the Malian Empire in West Africa c. 1200-1500 CE. Djembe is always played intentionally, for a purpose. No matter if it is being played for the farmers, for initiation, for the full moon or for any other reason, dance and intention are always involved, so don't be afraid to dance when the djembe calls to you! The djembe parts, dunun parts (low bass drums) and oral history for each rhythm must be taught and learned with traditional djembe; the music along with the specific rhythm name, where it was created, by whom and for what purpose, as well as whose version.Whether it is as an author, storyteller, professional speaker, educator, entrepreneur, video/recording artist, corporate team building facilitator or performer, Taylor brings a unique perspective to his craft. With the combination of a unique ability to communicate, instill discipline and promote creativity, combined with a broad range of life and professional experience, he focuses on the relationship between the individual and rhythm/drumming.This has led to an overall philosophy that seeks to bridge the gap between all things in rhythm, seeking to find where one's own personal pulse lies in relation to the collective pulse. By way of traditional West African or non-traditional styles, Taylor demonstrates the universality of rhythm in everything he does. Thank you!Make it a great day!Taylor
