Ara Opens Up On How She Learnt Playing Talking Drum

Nigerian singer cum drummer, Ara has opened up on how she learned to play the talking drum.

She said she learned it by herself because men refused to teach her.

Ara stated this during a recent interview with Channels TV.

Acclaimed the “queen of drums”, Ara said she learned how to play the drums by watching the men perform.

According to her, she listened to Nigeria’s veteran singers and learned how to play the drums to their sounds.

The singer said this was to further enhance her skills.

“I learned how to play the talking drum by watching the guys play because they refused to teach me. So I watched them play. I bought the music of people that I look up to in the industry,” she said.

“My father had a huge collection from Fela to Ayinla Omo Wura to Yusuf Olatunji to King Sunny Ade and everybody. So I learned to play with them.

“I listened to even Lagbaja when I was learning how to play because I love Lagbaja a lot. So I listened to all of their music and I trained my ear to listen differently and play differently.”

Reports say Ara is regarded as the foremost female drummer in Africa with a career that spans over two decades.

The 47-year-old artiste has performed at both local and international events.

She was reported to have once shared a stage with Stevie Wonder.