Overview

Babatune Olatunji's record album Drums of Passion proclaimed that the time had come for America to recognize Africa's cultural contributions to the music world. Through his many albums and live performances, the Nigerian drummer popularized West African traditional music and spread his message of racial harmony. In this long-awaited autobiography, Olatunji presents his life story and the philosophy that guided him. Olatunji influenced and inspired musicians for more than forty years--from luminaries to music students and the many ordinary people who participated in his drum circles. He writes about rhythm being the soul of life, and about the healing power of the drum. Ultimately, The Beat of My Drum shows why at the time of his death in 2003, Olatunji had become, according to The New York Times, the most visible African musician in the United States.

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9781592133536

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remarkable...This excellent autobiography, among other things, tells what it was like being black in America in [Olatunji's] lifetime, a life that included numerous successes, gaining respect and admiration from his colleagues and friends. Multicultural Review If you would like to be motivated and enriched by a true life's accounting of an African drummer with the mission of cultural understanding, human rights, civil rights, and social justice, you won't be able to put this book down. Percussion Notes In this beguiling autobiography, Olatunji traces his life... [he] writes with humor, passion and occasional bitterness as he delineates both his successes and disappointments over the years...The Beat Of My Drum is an inspiring book that makes a convincing case for a prominent place for Olatunji among the social and artistic leaders of the last half of the 20th century. Dirty Linen The text is a fascinating memoir of Olatunji's intriguing career. Sing Out [A]n absorbing read that highlights [Olatunji's] sometimes-forgotten role in the Civil Rights movement, as well as his groundbreaking musical career. Global Rhythm This book is unmistakably a portrait of a committed, accomplished man, a great man, in some respects a role model for us all & fascinating explanation of what it was that influenced him and drove him to greatness. The Beat Featuring an excellent introduction that places Olatunji in the context of music history, this accessible book is highly recommended for all African and world music collections. Library Journal Olatunji taught this country--white and black--the glories of West African music and dance. His message is now being carried on by thousands of younger people in different parts of the U.S.A. It is good to have this book, with his words, to tell his story more completely. Pete Seeger Baba has spread his rhythm seeds far and wide and now we have many new crops in our garden of rhythm thanks to his vision and passion. Mickey Hart

remarkable...This excellent autobiography, among other things, tells what it was like being black in America in [Olatunji's] lifetime, a life that included numerous successes, gaining respect and admiration from his colleagues and friends. Multicultural Review If you would like to be motivated and enriched by a true life's accounting of an African drummer with the mission of cultural understanding, human rights, civil rights, and social justice, you won't be able to put this book down. Percussion Notes In this beguiling autobiography, Olatunji traces his life... [he] writes with humor, passion and occasional bitterness as he delineates both his successes and disappointments over the years...The Beat Of My Drum is an inspiring book that makes a convincing case for a prominent place for Olatunji among the social and artistic leaders of the last half of the 20th century. Dirty Linen The text is a fascinating memoir of Olatunji's intriguing career. Sing Out [A]n absorbing read that highlights [Olatunji's] sometimes-forgotten role in the Civil Rights movement, as well as his groundbreaking musical career. Global Rhythm This book is unmistakably a portrait of a committed, accomplished man, a great man, in some respects a role model for us all & fascinating explanation of what it was that influenced him and drove him to greatness. The Beat Featuring an excellent introduction that places Olatunji in the context of music history, this accessible book is highly recommended for all African and world music collections. Library Journal Olatunji taught this country--white and black--the glories of West African music and dance. His message is now being carried on by thousands of younger people in different parts of the U.S.A. It is good to have this book, with his words, to tell his story more completely. Pete Seeger Baba has spread his rhythm seeds far and wide and now we have many new crops in our garden of rhythm thanks to his vision and passion. Mickey Hart

Author Information

Babatunde Olatunji (1927-2003) internationally renowned musician, teacher, and humanitarian, was teacher in residence at the Esalen Institute at the time of his death.Robert Atkinson is Director, Center for the Study of Lives at the University of Southern Maine.

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