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Zeng Liming leads his students in a drum circle in a square by Shenzhen's Nanshan Book City. Zeng is teaching children how to play the African hand drum known as the djembe. |
A Chinese teacher brings djembe to students in Shenzhen, Lin Jing reports.
Watching a group of Chinese children playing the djembe, an African hand drum, in a park in Shenzhen is an uplifting experience. The ups and downs of the beat and the exotic rhythm produce a variety of sounds, presenting a vivid picture of Africa.
For Zeng Liming, the djembe teacher sitting among the children, the instrument is not just a spare-time activity but a lifelong choice.
"I find spiritual sustenance in teaching djembe, and have a lot of fun," says Zeng. The 50-year-old is believed to be the first professional teacher of the instrument in Shenzhen.
"It has opened a new chapter in my life."
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Zeng tries to impart a sense of rhythm to his students with the dejembe. |
Originating in West Africa, the djembe was first used for important gatherings and ceremonies. Dje means "gather" and be means "peace".
The goblet-shaped drum, a part of African culture for centuries, has gained popularity in China in recent years. Shenzhen, in addition to being home to a large contingent of djembe aficionados, also has many teachers of the instrument. Zeng moved there in 2006 and discovered the drum three years later.