Positive

I was an apprentice for at least ten years. First you know how to play the cowbell and then you move to the ayaya, the maraca, and then after to akpagbang, one of the little drums. Then you have the ashiwui; but if you can play the cowbell, the maraca and akpagbang that means you are good already because these are the basis ingredients in our Ewe music. The akpagbang keeps one rhythm. You play this all day long and your timing has to be positive. And the man next to you, on the ashiwui, starts with a cross-rhythm. Now two ashiwuis are mixing with the cowbell, and the maracas all drop in one after another. Then the master drum, the atshigo, joins in; that man improvises. So from all those steps you come to the master drum after ten years, and that is only if you are good. You have to remember everything you learned to play. You can't write it down and say, "Let's rehearse this." No, you have to be able to chew it and pour it out when it comes.

Kofi Ayivor