SEAVIEW LAWN SUNDAY/FUNDAY DRUM CIRCLE

An Intergenerational, Interspecies, InterGalactic 

Gathering Every Sunday, 4 pm to 7 pm, in Kalapana

Featuring Drummers, Dancers, and Fire Twirlers 

Story by Raydiance Joy Grace

Photos by Raydiance and Charles Niles except where noted

THE SEAVIEW LAWN IN KALAPANA GRACIOUSLY HOSTS THE DRUM CIRCLE

There have been other drum circles on the lawn but this incarnation was started the second week after the National Guard reopened Lower Puna after the lava flow ended. Every Sunday for over 10 years, I have spent my Sunday afternoon with fellow tribal drum/dance enthusiasts celebrating the seasons with gusto. The natural convergence of sea and open land in an outdoor park setting is conducive to good vibes.

The instant community formed includes the newly born to the spry elders and everyone in between sharing a common language, and the love of musical expression through tribal drumming and dancing.

Charles Niles:” What the Sunday/Funday means to me is Freedom to Dance! Anyone can come out to dance the way they are feeling.”

Leo Letoya: “A chance to get in touch with other people and be a member of a tribe.”

Raydiance: “I am there with the sole purpose of letting go of any inner or outer stress acquired during the week to remember that I am an instrument of divine rhythm, joy and peace. As I follow the lead drummers, I begin to feel the unity of our circle, connecting us all to the beat of the universal drum that emanates from our heart chakra.”  

“After I beat the drum for a while, I enter the “zone” of no me, no time, no place, just the beat of my drum connecting with the beat of the other drums. This feeling or similar experience is why I believe the drum has been the chosen instrument starting with the indigenous tribes for ritual, ceremony, communication and self-expression.”

ASTA: “I like to socialize and interact with people in settings that support my artistic expression through drumming and dancing and costume.

Image from: privatetoursneworleans.com/blog/congo-square-the-birthplace-of-jazz

The origins of contemporary drum circles in North America can be traced back to Congo Square in New Orleans. The Congo Square was a unique space where enslaved Africans freed people of color including Native Americans.  The allies of freedom would gather on Sundays to sell goods often to buy themselves from slavery which naturally led to drumming, dancing, and maintaining their cultural heritage. This tradition of communal music-making and the blending of various drumming styles—European marching drums, African rhythms, and Native American beats—laid the foundation for contemporary drum circles and influenced the development of numerous American music genres. 

 Photo and following text from: King Clave | Planet Drum ft. Mickey Hart | Playing For Change | Song Around The World

In 1991, during testimony before the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging, Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart stated: “Typically, people gather to drum in drum “circles” with others from the surrounding community. The drum circle offers equality because there is no head or tail. It includes people of all ages. The main objective is to share rhythm and get in tune with each other and themselves. To form a group consciousness. To entrain and resonate. By entrainment, I mean that a new voice, a collective voice, emerges from the group as they drum together.”

 I heard drumming in my first tribal home, Big Sur, California at a harvest celebration in the 1970’s. I joined African dancing and drumming classes at the Esalen Institute with Babatunde Olutunji, a former Nigerian scholarship student who had attended Morehouse College in Georgia. In 1957, while pursuing graduate studies at NYU, Baba began to play his drum at private functions. During this time he came to the attention of Columbia Records A&R man John Hammond, who eventually signed him to the label. In 1959 Baba released Drums of Passion, which became a major hit, sold millions of copies worldwide, and introduced many Americans to World Music. Babatunde Olatunji became a Grammy award-winning virtuoso drummer, percussionist, producer, social activist, educator, and recording artist.

The following is a collective of different comments that the drummers have made on what this drumming circle means to them:

JEREMY SMITH expressed that leadership qualities at a drum circle are being present and active listening. “A drum circle is a conversation without words. People become friends quickly when they dance and drum together. It brings the community into the moment together. Dance influences the rhythm as much as the rhythm influences the dance. I’m always watching and listening, interpreting the state of interactions occurring and peppering the sauce with counter rhythms and polyrhythms. I refrain from going so far as to lose the conversation in a rush of showmanship. It’s a cyclical energy exchange and a mutually shared experience. My discipline is to keep the pulse of the circle strong by actively listening to everyone’s contributions and responding appropriately. I try to communicate with my drums the love and joy for the mutual experience that brings people together, to share community spirit and to create Heaven on Earth”.

MICHAEL RANNELLS: “Drumming means everything to me, it is my church and helps me to get out of my head, to quiet my mind. Next to my children, it is the most important thing in my life”.

ERICK AVERY: “Drumming helps me to expand my ability to play my bass and other instruments better”.

WHITE DOVE: “I have been drumming at the Lawn(Hawaiian proper name is Makena) for 10 years. It is my religion, a sacred movement that I devote to the blessed Divine in gratitude for all she provides to us. It is an extreme honor & pleasure to be drumming in a circle with my brother & sistar drummers. It feels powerful in my soul & so beautiful and amazing to gift this calling to my Community. Yes, I know we are creating a new world for all to emulate! It is food for this being”.

NALINI LISA BOGGS: “When I am dancing in the drum circle, I am having a spiritual experience. I am surrounded by all these beautiful drummers exuding ancient energy. Whatever walk of life, whatever culture we come from, whatever form of drumming we play, we are all connected by the heartbeat of the drum. As a human walking this earth, I hear the drum and I don’t own my body. It is no longer mine, I am an instrument with a higher purpose to enjoy and celebrate life by affirming through my dancing that this reality is OK”.

CHETAN ON DANCING AT DRUM CIRCLE:  “A celebration of oneness. I feel connected to everyone and everything including the coconut trees and the ocean while I am dancing which brings me great joy! A unique event of a community coming together to celebrate, have fun, play drums, and dance together to create a tribal gathering. What the world needs more of”.

HOPE JOHNSON ON DANCING AT DRUM CIRCLE: “A celebration of peace, unity, love, and joy in a beautiful, outdoor location with an incredible view of the ocean. I just let go and do what the music and dancing do to me”.

Lorenzo Ambrose: “The drum circle is a continuous resistance for this existence, where we share community space with authenticity, carrying rhythms from around the world, once a week for free, in peace”.

The Beat of Humanity: Why Analog Drumming Matters in a Digital Age

 “In an era dominated by digital technology, where machines and algorithms increasingly mediate our experiences, the humble act of analog drumming stands as a testament to the enduring power of human creativity and connection. As we navigate the complexities of modern life, the rhythmic beat of the drums reminds us of the beauty, simplicity, and profundity of human expression. Analog drumming is more than just a musical pursuit – it is an act of human engineering, a manifestation of our innate desire to create/ communicate/connect. 

The physical act of drumming, with its intricate patterns, polyrhythms, and emotional nuances engages our entire being from the mathematical precision of our brainwaves to the emotional resonance of our hearts. In contrast to the increasingly prevalent world of DJing, where digital algorithms and machines generate beats, analog drumming embodies a uniquely human quality. The imperfections, variations, and expressiveness of live drumming create a depth and richness that digital reproductions cannot replicate. As we drum, we pour our humanity into the rhythm, creating a symphony of emotions, thoughts, and experiences that resonate with others on a primal level. 

The weekly drum circle, a communal gathering of individuals from diverse backgrounds, is a powerful testament to the transformative power of analog drumming. As we come together, drums in hand, we transcend our differences, united by the universal language of rhythm. The drum circle becomes a sacred space, where healing, peace, and unity are forged through the shared experience. In an age where digital distractions and social isolation increasingly erode our sense of community, the drum circle stands as a beacon of hope. 

By gathering in peaceful assembly, we reaffirm our fundamental human rights: the right to assemble, the right to express ourselves, and the right to connect with others. As we drum on, against the machines, we assert our humanity, our creativity, and our capacity for connection. We remind ourselves that, despite the allure of digital convenience, there is no substitute for the tactile, emotional, and spiritual experience of analog drumming. So let us continue to drum, to gather, and to celebrate our shared humanity. For in the beat of the drums, we find a universal language, a common ground, and a profound sense of connection that transcends the boundaries of technology and speaks directly to our hearts”.

The Seaview Lawn Drum Circle is a positive community-building event in Puna supporting adults, families with children, and friendly dogs to greet, meet, and connect at many different levels. Held in a healthy outdoor, safe environment, it perpetuates our love of celebration through music, dance, and community. A majority of the drummers and dancers live in Seaview Estates, including myself, the author of this article. Collectivly we stand for encouraging the arts and musical expression of each individual at the Seaview Lawn Drum Circle on Sunday.