Erique Lasalle of the" Africa Today "

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30457:dabi-speaking-diverse-tongues-with-drums&catid=105:saturday-magazine&Itemid=566

writes:....Debo Dabi Kanyinsola, a rare talent of his kind, an all -round master drummer and who is accomplished in an array of Yoruba traditions and drumming styles. He has emerged over a decade as the most revered gangan drummer in Nigeria and perhaps the most famous gangan drummer in the world.

At home in Nigeria,he is known for his expertise in every genre from gangan to bata,akuba.gudugudu, ashiko,bembe,kongaa sakara, agidigbo. Between 1990 to2002 Dabi has toured internationally performing in dozens of high-profile festivals and independent tours of USA,Germany,Italy,Spain,France, Canada,India,Austria Scadinavian,Japan, South Korea ,Poland,Jamaica,Holland and United Kingdom. Apart from being steeped in Yoruba tradition as a ritual drummer, a flexible and experimental virtuoso of internationa calibre.".

At the festival of arts in Montreal: Dabi always takes his audience away musically from Quebec to Africa " "Il est tellement chouette"" and " ". La Gazette de Montreal called him ""Chiki-Boum". My intent is to bring Africa closer to people in a way that does not have a stigma attached to it.

The Africa culture does not have to be something seen in an exotic sense, it is for everyone to share and understand. Through my music I hope to help people understand our culture ".

West Africa magazine described Dabi as "Africa's leading talking drummer. "Drum is the ear of God and one must beat it with the attitude that one is speaking to God on behalf of mankind" My efforts are directed toward preserving the African culture through my music. ".

Edward Ray, in the African Music Magazine writes about Dabi's Group DDK: "Each member of the group brings a different dimension to the collective sound, the repertoire ranges from a hunter's song from Nigeria to a fishermen's song from Benin to a warrior's song from South Africa to a nomadic's . Their music is a testimony to the fact that around the world, rhythm continues to create new ideas and reshape old ones. "Their music acts as the testimony to the power of the rhythm, which has been the engine that drives the music of the 20th Century and will drive the music of the 21st Century."

Dabi,born in Nigeria, West Africa,comes from a family of Master Drummers of the Yoruba tribe. From an early age dancing and drumming formed an intrinsic part of his life. He was raised in the Yoruba tribal culture, one that works, worships, lives and breathes to the beat of the drum, which has been primarily used to transmit traditional knowledge.

The drum is the focal point of Dabi's life story, and as well his link to the western world. After his graduation from the University of Montpellier, France, he pursued a brief career as a graphic artist, and then returned to traditional African music. Since that time, Mr. Kanyinsola has acquired a global reputation as an entertainer, instrumentalist,choreographer,dancer, and instructor. He absorbed the music and culture of his entire country, from the capital to the forest region, and brings this out in his music.

Mr Kanyinsola presently spearheads DDK Yoruba drumming Ensemble Mr. Kanyinsola is fluent in English, French, Japanese,Nago and Yoruba. He reads and writes them all My father (May God rest his soul) was also a drummer,and my grandfather too. All my ancestors,ever since we can remember , dedicated to this noble occupation. [My music] seeks to fashion a reflection of order and purity out of the high 'entropy' state of today's living, particularly in my part of Africa.

The beauty of a people is rooted in their conscious striving to fully utilise cultural elements found in their sub-region as basis for expression, be it in musical practice, dress, food, speech, theatre, social, etc. Thus, new forms should be generated out of that which is culturally authentic around one. The only true way forward, I believe .

Back in France,during my University days,there were times I wouldn't eat for two days simply because I have used the money meant for food to prepare my debut of some kind. Today I am happy that I have made a change musically throughout the world. My dream is to let the world know the vital role of the "talking drum"in any ensemble and to let the unborn generations know that our culture is a very rich one ".