Drums of change: Women beat new rhythms of empowerment

The thunder of African drums and the power of women’s voices fused this summer, as a groundbreaking cultural exchange not only celebrated heritage but also shattered gender barriers in a male-dominated tradition.

CALL Barbados (Culture & Arts for Love & Living) hosted Drum with a Purpose, a landmark cultural exchange funded by the Creative Caribbean: An Ecosystem of P.L.A.Y. for Growth and Development programme, supported by the EU, CARICOM, UNESCO, the Organisation of African-Caribbean-Pacific States, and the University of the West Indies.

From July 24 to  August 3, Barbados hosted Giwayen Mata, the acclaimed all-female African-American drumming and dance ensemble from Atlanta, Georgia, for a ten-day programme of workshops, performances, and cultural exchange. The initiative not only challenged long-held gender norms in the male-dominated tradition of African drumming, but also laid the groundwork for the island’s first all-female Afrikan drumming group.

“This exchange has been a catalyst for empowerment, inspiration and connection, bridging Barbados and Atlanta while strengthening ties across the African Diaspora,” said Andrea King, project lead for Drum with a Purpose.

The exchange brought together more than 60 participants, from schoolchildren to adults, who trained in African drumming and dance traditions of the Baga, Bambara, Malinke and Susu peoples of Greater Senegambia.

Giwayen Mata’s visit also featured standout cultural moments: appearing at the Barbados Landship Competition, collaborating at the National Cultural Foundation’s (NCF) Dance Studio, and performing at the Crop Over Folk Concert in Golden Square Freedom Park. They also joined the Emancipation Day March to the Bussa Statue, experienced the iconic Foreday Morning Jam, and partnered with local groups such as Naweza, Dancin’ Africa, and Danse Nationale Afrique.

CALL Barbados credited the National Cultural Foundation for its long-standing collaboration, noting the NCF’s role in hosting the Dance Workshop and Cultural Exchange.

“We are grateful to the National Cultural Foundation for their continued support of small, private sector arts organisations like CALL Barbados,” said King, who is also director of CALL Barbados. “By opening their resources and facilities, the NCF ensures projects of cultural significance reach communities islandwide and empower independent creatives to thrive.”

The exchange not only provided artistic training but also empowered the local women and girls involved to embrace drumming, fostered a stronger appreciation for African Diasporic traditions, and built lasting cultural connections between communities. Giwayen Mata, in turn, returned to Atlanta enriched with knowledge, including techniques from the Barbados Landship.

“Most importantly, the project sparked real momentum towards the creation of Barbados’ first all-female Afrikan drum ensemble, a legacy that will continue to resonate long after the final drumbeat,” King said. (SB)