The Healing Drum: African Wisdom Teachings [Paperback]

Yaya Diallo (Author), Mitch Hall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1989

The Healing Drum traces the extraordinary cultural legacy of the Minianka tribe of West Africa, for whom music serves a sacred, healing function for the individual and society. The authors explore the Minianka view of humanity, music, and the cosmos relative to work, celebration, herbal medicine, dance, trance, initiation, and death. 

The first book of its kind, delivering a message of untapped wisdom and power from a little-known culture through the universal medium of music.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Healing Drum is more than a literary autobiography; it includes considerable ethnographic information about Minianka culture"
(Shaman's Drum )

"Together Diallo and Hall have collaborated to produce a text that combines anthropology, sociology, philosophy and music in a potent and thought-provoking read."
(The Jazz Report )

"This is not actually a scholarly book, but that is part of its strength: the subjects discussed in Part One, about Minianka culture as a whole, are those covered in standard ethnographic studies."
(Ethnomusicology )

"Part two provides examination of the more public role of music as a sacred healing practice in Minianka culture."
(Timothy White, Editor of Shaman's Drum )

"I have been searching for an authentic, traditional CD with chanting and singing, and now I have finally found it!"
(Body Mind Spirit Magazine, October 2003 )

About the Author

Born and raised in Mali, West Africa into the Minianka (Bamana) tribe, Yaya Diallo learned to play balafon and hand drums under the instruction of his grandfather and spiritual mentor, Nangape. 

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Destiny Books (December 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892812567
• ISBN-13: 978-0892812561
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #97,086 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > History > Africa > Mali
  • #29 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Practices > Tribal & Ethnic

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Djenbe - Africa - Iceland - diferent - the same., September 19, 1999

By 

Örn Leifsson (Reykjavik Iceland.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Healing Drum: African Wisdom Teachings (Paperback)

It was wery interesting for me, a guy from Iceland to read this book, for Dialo's life in Africa was so totaly different from growing up here in Iceland, but what we do have in common though is a deep love and respect for drumming, music and the power of both to heal. I would like to add, that though there is a big difference on the surface it is interesting to see how similar humans are underneath the surface.

I recomend this book for all who have interest in traditional African music and culture, and for all those who play the Djembe this book is a must.

For those of you who are studying drumming and/or rhythm I also recomend Sule Greg Vilson's "The drummers path", Reinhard Flatichler's "The forgotten power of rhythm", And "A rhytmmic vocbulary" by Alan Dworsky.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars inspiring, March 21, 2004

By 

kaioatey (Awatovi, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Healing Drum: African Wisdom Teachings (Paperback)

This book is about music, healing, indigenous view of life and above all, it is about harmony, which is achieved when life is lived with respect and with generosity.

Diallo is a member of the mainly agricultural Minianka/Senufo tribe living in what today is Mali. The Minianka have been able to resist the depredations which occur when Islam or X-ianity enters African societies; they are animist, that is, they still observe and follow ancient laws that emphsize the interdependence between humans, nature and the transcendent realms. Music to the Minianka music is much more than entertainment. It is used for work, celebration, ritual, inititations, funerals and healing; each activity (as well as each profession and each person) has its own special rhythms and harmonies. The MInianka understand music as a bridge between the visible and invisible. As such, it is used to establish harmonious relationships between an individual, his community, his ancestors and the Creator. Every night there is dancing at the village square - and EVERYBODY dances. Minianka musicians learn to transpose the essence of their fellow men's characters into music, so that when a villager gets to dance, he is greated by rhythms which match his/her character and emotional configuration. By observing closely, the musicians can adapt the music to the needs of the listener and thereby lead them to health. In Minianka villages, says Diallo, "musicians are healers, the healers musicians.... Music...amplifies to our sense the unheard tones and unseen waves that weave together the matter of existence. The beat, the rhythm, the timing, the orchestration, the flow, the balance between action and rest must all be within well-defined limits...and the music becomes a healing art that helps restore emotionally and psychologically disturbed people to harmonious human functioning. "

THe book is well written and brings us a close -up of Fienso, the village of Diallo's childhood. I found the descriptions of initiation ceremonies, daily work, secret societies very interesting. It made me see the Minianka society as an extremely sophisticated - where there is place for everyone and where everybody is interconnected in a web of mutual obligations between people, spirits and God. Unfortunately, the interdependence on mutual obligations makes the African society also fragile; when reciprocity inherent in such webs is interrupted, as during incursions of oil and diamond money, radical X-ianity or Islam, the African society collapses and we get what we see today in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Liberia or Sudan - lack of harmony and lack of peace.

Still, we would be fools to pass the opportunity to learn what Africans have to teach us. Music is one of the keys that can open the door of the gilded cage in which the giant of industrial nihilism has imprisoned us and Yaya Diallo shows us in this wonderful book, that it is possible to open one's body, spirit and destiny to the amazing world of harmony and beauty where true healing occurs.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational, April 20, 2003

By 

Penny M (Croydon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Healing Drum: African Wisdom Teachings (Paperback)

I wanted to read this book because I have recently started learning African drumming and I wished to find out more about West African culture and how traditional music is used to heal. This was the perfect book for both aspects.

The author helps us to appreciate the culture of his village through his own experiences. We read about his struggles to follow the customs and teachings of his village as he is educated in French culture and taught to embrace the Western way of life.

We also gain an insight into the secret societies and social aspects of life in his village. Suspend disbelief at some of the awesome sights that he relates, I only wish that I could see them for myself! The sociological, psychological and religious knowledge that he reveals about his community is fascinating.

Yaya shows us that a musician in this culture does not just "play" music, music is a vital aspect of life which sustains the society and heals lost souls. The musician is a healer and a protector of the people. Each piece of music has implications, positive or negative, and the musician has a responsibility to the community to play well and appropriately.

This book has helped me to gain an insight into African culture and music; from now on my djembe playing will have more significance for me and I feel inspired by the healing potential that I now hold in my hands.