Video Transcript – How one man is making syracuse upbeat, one rythmn at a time.
Griffin Fellows: If some time over the past two years you’ve been driving by Syracuse University and think you’ve heard the sound of drums coming from this building you’re right! Behind this door is where the magic happens.
Fellows: Here at the Community Folk Art Center on East Genesee Street one man is making it his mission to make Syracuse more upbeat, one rhythm at a time.
Fellows: This a traditional West African drum called a Djembe, you can find one at the West African drum class offered every Thursday and taught by this man David Nyadedzor or as the students call him Echa. Echa originally from Ghana, moved to Syracuse in the late 90s and brought a huge part of his culture with him, and after taking up a family tradition of drumming he’s made it his true passion.
David Nyadezdor: Growing up this was my Game Boy, we didn’t have the privilege to have devices that kids have here. Cousins and friends, when we wanted to play we would make drums out of trash cans.
Fellows: He now teaches to people old and young, and this couple Terri and Ralph Minniefield who have been fans since day one.
Terri Minniefield: I enjoy the story that Echa shares about the village or ceremonies or this one is for weddings and people come over to play. It’s very visual.
Fellows: While Echa is far from home, the heartbeat of his culture is still strong. Griffin Fellows NCC News
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) — The steady beat of drums echoes throughout the halls of the Community Folk Art Center on East Genesee Street. Every Thursday night you can hear booming bass of the Djembe coming from the traditional West African drum class.
The class of about eight is led by David Nyadedzor, known by his students as “Echa.” Originally from a small tribe in Ghana, Echa learned to love and embrace his culture from a young age. He took an interest in drumming and learned from different tribes all over his home country. Echa then moved to Syracuse in the late 90s to persue a different kind of life and brought with him a deep connection to his culture and its music.
“Growing up, this was my Game Boy,” Echa said about the drum. “We didnt have the privilege to have devices that the kids have here. Cousins and friends, when we wanted to play, we would make drums out of trash cans.”
This childhood obsession became his lifelong passion. As an adult, Echa continued to stay in touch with his roots, spreading the art of the drums in any way he could. Today, Nyadedzor teaches a traditional West African drumming class at Syracuse University’s Community Folk Art Center, where he shares stories about his heritage to people old and young every week.
Terri and Ralph Minniefield a couple in their 70s and 90s, who have been coming to the class for about five years, said that the rhythmns transport them to another place.
“I enjoy the stories that Echa shares about the village or ceremonies” Terri Minnefield said. “Its very visual.”
While Echa might be far from what once was home, its clear that the heartbeat of his culture is still strong.