That's not to say their stage show is less ferocious than it once was. For all the energy put into pounding their drums, the group members put as much energy into an acrobatic dance routine that draws from traditional African dance, modern dance and even break dancing -- exemplifying even further how today's popular music has its roots in West African traditions.
This influence is important to Biayenda, who hopes that the members of Les Tambours and their music might one day have a similar influence on the world. "Our country has many problems," he says, citing AIDS, famine and war that have ravaged the Congo. "But they are all problems that we can overcome."
The members of Les Tambours are proof that they can be overcome. And if we can overcome these problems in Africa, where the people have so little, that should give great hope to the rest of the world.
Les Tambours de Brazza play the National Theater in Taipei on Monday, Dec. 15 and Tuesday, Dec. 16 at
7:30pm before moving to Kaohsiung for a concert at Chih Teh Hall Friday, Dec. 19 at 7:30pm. Tickets cost between NT$400 and NT$1,200 and are available through Acer Ticket outlets, on the Web at http://www.ticket.com.tw/, or at the door.
RSS