Alex | Aju

Norm

Uploaded July 31, 2010 10:30pm.

290

Caveat emptor: I did absolutely none of the drumming in this piece.

ANOTHER WORLD PREMIER! FIRST RECORDING OF THIS PATTERN - EVER!

My friend Kokou “Alex” Yemey delighted me with another visit this evening. He played “Aju” - all 5 tracks from memory (“I’ve heard it since I was a child”).

“Aju” is a name without implicit meaning, referring specifically to this pattern. West African, and specific to voodoo harvest ceremony held in the fall of each year, this song is publicly played every night from around 4-8pm for 1 month, after the harvest, in thanksgiving, by an animist tribe. It’s an ancient, traditional pattern. It is considered to be “classical”: the beats are well known and not to be altered. As far as Alex & I know, “Aju” has not been recorded before.

Traditionally, this pattern is performed by an all male percussion ensemble, to an all female dance squad. During the month of this celebration, the female dancers are confined to a fortified compound every night, and they speak in a special language that is used only during this month.

I had considered submitting this to Ramen Music, as it is indeed a treasure, but Alex did not feel that “Aju” was his to sell.

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Rick Phillips said October 24, 2015 9:47pm

So sorry to hear of Alex's passing, God bless him and his family, Play on Alex, Aloha

Norm said October 23, 2015 7:26pm

RIP Alex. I am so happy I could share this with the world while you were with us. Hey world, when you evolve enough to appreciate this, enjoy!

b3nny said August 19, 2010 3:09am

this is good, i really like the timing of all these nice percussions. i was tilting the whole time.

Johnny Stone said August 14, 2010 4:07am

Great beat nice one. And thanks for your recent comment.

Movement To Contact said August 7, 2010 4:50am

Drum Man!

Klarion said August 6, 2010 9:02pm

As for playing with it, I would say, listen to the shaker. It's keeping a steady beat most of the time.

Klarion said August 6, 2010 9:01pm

thanks for sharing this. It's great and also educational :)

vaisvil said August 6, 2010 12:34pm

This is so complex rhythmically that I don't know *how* to play along. I'm not sure if one should - it stands on its own - wow. This is a lesson here. Please send Alex my regards for his skill and sharing his cultural heritage.