Conversation With Drums - view

The beat of the drum is a form of communication which transcends language, age, nationality or race. When I first heard the Candombe Beat in Parque Centenario (Buenos Aires), I felt free and positive - buzzing from the vibes it was creating within everyone around me too. They seemed familiar and I felt at home in an unknown place. I went back to the same park every Sunday afternoon to hear the same beats before talking to the drummers and finding out about their music.

This group of photographs is an exploration of the drumbeat and the people who play it. They are a combination of the first group I saw: 'Kimbara', and another group who mesmerized me with their beats: 'Cheikh Gueye'.

Kimbara play the traditional Uruguayan beats of Candombe mixed with 'Chiekh Gueye': traditional beats from Senegal. These literally resonate throughout your body. Both beats are traditionally used to bring people together. According to the 'Bamana' people in Mali, the name 'djembe' (a type of drum) comes from 'Anke dje, anke - be', which translates literally as 'everyone gather together'. In Uruguay, the Candombe is used traditionally to beckon the population to join in a great celebration known as 'Llamada': the 'Open Call'.