The Secrets of Congolese Drums

In this video Mr Koko’s step-by-step guide, you will learn how to play the Rumba and Soukous percussion styles. These styles are taught by Congoloses drum legend Koko Kanyinda in an easy-to-follow method. Koko teaches 14 essential exercises to get players up and going in the Rumba and Soukous traditions. DVD run time is 66 minutes. Koko Kanyinda is an outstanding drummer and vocalist from the Congo. He is the last surviving conga player from the first generation of Congolese musicians like Tabu Ley le Rochereau and Franco whose Rumba style took Africa by storm in the 1960s. Kanyinda was a pupil of the great master drummer Kadima and early in his career, he performed with a number of Congolese greats including Dr Nico Mbarga, Papa Noel and Sam Mangwana. Kanyinda moved to the UK in 1990 and settled in Bristol to teach drumming. Four years later he moved to London and formed Soukous Koumbele. Since then he has given drumming workshops throughout Europe, USA and Australia with the WOMAD organization and toured with Mose Fan Fan and the Master Drummers of Africa.