Research Catalog

Title

The beat of my drum : an autobiography / Babatunde Olatunji, with Robert Atkinson, assisted by Akinsola Akiwowo ; foreword by Joan Baez ; introduction by Eric Charry.

Author

Olatunji, Babatunde

Publication

Philadelphia : Temple University Press, c2005.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Additional Authors

• Atkinson, Robert, 1945-
• Akiwowo, Akinsola A.

Description

vii, 247 p. : ill.; 24 cm.

Summary

Overview: Babatunde 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."

Subject

• Olatunji, Babatunde
• Drummers (Musicians) > Nigeria > Biography

Genre/Form

• Autobiographies
• Biographies
• Autobiographies.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references, discographies, videographies, and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

The spirit of drumming -- Yorubaland -- From Lagos to Atlanta -- Jim Crow and college life -- Harlem on my mind -- Drums of passion -- Social change and civil rights -- World music comes of age -- Voices of Africa.

ISBN

• 1592133533 (cloth : alk. paper)
• 1592133541 (pbk. : alk. paper)

LCCN

^^2004053726

OCLC

• 55765472
• SCSB-11897214

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library