Djembe Singapore Club

Every week in a room at LTC Building B, 12 Arumugam Road, #04-11, a short walk from MacPherson MRT Exit B, the Djembe Singapore Club gathers people who drum happily together, and the club's own site insists that anyone can drum, regardless of background. Founded in 2004 by Kelvin Kew, a Tam Tam Mandingue Djembe Academy Senior Certified Teacher, and managed by Lila Drums Productions, the club teaches traditional African rhythms and drum songs on authentic drums from West Africa, along with the culture and history behind the music, and frames drumming as a way to de-stress and experience mindfulness. Newcomers aged 16 and above begin with the Djembe Initiation Course, learning traditional technique and rhythm logic from the Mandingue culture of West Africa, a tradition the site traces to the 13th century, before joining the weekly regular classes. In those regular classes, beginners take the first hour and more experienced players tackle challenging phrases in the second hour, with students free to choose which slots they attend. African dance runs as a separate ad-hoc four-week set of lessons in traditional West African steps, open to all newcomers with no background required, and pitched as a cardiovascular workout. Weekly classes have run since 2005, with occasional guest-artist workshops, and enquiries go to djembesingaporeclub@liladrums.com.