FILM SCREENING
“Yoruba Indigenous Drum Making” Film Screening at NUMU 12:00 pm, 12:30 pm, 1:00 pm, 1:30pm, 2:00pm, 2:30 pm, 3:00 pm, 3:30pm, 4:00pm, 4:30pm
NUMU
106 East Main Street, Los Gatos, CA
FILM DETAILS
Language: English
Year: May 2022
Runtime: 13 minutes
Country: Iseyin, Oyo State, Nigeria
Director & Cinematographer: Collins Akpapunam
Executive Producer: Folake Phillips
Music: Awa Ki se Olodi won by Ayinla Omowura
"Àyán" is a documentary short film that explores the art of traditional drum making in Iseyin, a sleepy town in the outskirts of Ibadan, Oyo State (the cradle of Yoruba civilization in Yoruba land) of Nigeria. The story is told through the lens of a young man, Saheed Ayandiran Ayanponmile, and his dad, Moshood Ayandiran Ayanwale, a family of master drum makers who learned this tradition from their ancestors. The documentary takes us through the intricate drum making process and the multiple uses for each drum, as well as the significance of each sound emanating from different drums. Traditional Yoruba drummers are known as Àyán. The Yoruba believe that Àyángalú was the first drummer, or the spirit that inspires drummers during performances. "Talking drums may be used as a means of communication between tribes, because of its ability to mimic the spoken word effectively. It can be used to relay messages of long distance about coronations, deaths, celebrations and war," explains the film's narrator. "Talking drums have mystical connotations and are linked to deities and gods. They are also used for prayer and as a means to bless a community or individual. Talking drums have spiritual undertones, linguistic prowess, and entertainment relevance." Indeed, Yoruba drumming exemplifies West-African cross-rhythms and is considered to be one of the most advanced drumming traditions in the world.
ABOUT EFIZZI
Efizzi Worldwide Entertainment Company and Efizzi Communications is a dual company operating under one unit as a multimedia company, with core services in the production of audiovisual marketing tools, documentaries, short films, digital photography, advertising & public relations. Efizzi is a dedicated team of videographers, sound engineers, graphic designers, lighting technicians, digital video editors, photographers and project managers led by Director & Founder, Collins Dike Akpapunam, who graduated from the University of Maryland. He interned at Ogilvy Benson & Mather and worked at Chartered Health Plan, Washington DC before returning to Nigeria to serve as a consultant to many blue-chip companies from MTN Nigeria & MTN Foundation, Etisalat, Vodacom, Rendevour to Dangote Group & Aliko Dangote Foundation, Forte Oil, and Embassy of the United States. Established in 2001, the company currently has offices in Lagos and Asaba, Nigeria.
"Àyán: Traditional Yoruba Drum Making"
(Collins Akpapunam, Efizzi Worldwide/Efizzi Communications, Nigeria, May 2022, 13 min)