MUSIC
INTRODUCTION
Bembé:
The Rhythm of The Saints
A bembé
is a party for the orishas. During a bembé the orishas are praised, saluted and
entreated to join the party through mounting one of the priests(esses) in
attendance. This is done through a confluence of the song, rhythm, and movement,
all calling to the orisha in such a way that the orish will recognise themselves
in the lyrics, rhythms and dances as they have been performed for them for
perhaps thousands of years.
The rhythms play an important part of the equation and the drummers practice
assiduously for years to be able to play the intricate rhythms correctly. This
is important since the drums are actually speaking to the orishas as the Yoruba
language is a tonal one and
the
drums are tuned in such a way as to play the tones of Yoruba speech. For this
reason some rhythms are never played unless it is in religious context as it
would offend the orisha. These rhythms are actually prayers to the deities with
each orisha having its own rhythms associated with them.
Dance
also becomes prayer in the religious context of a bembé. The movements of the
dances are the same motions associated with the orishas for thousands of years.
As with the rythms played on the drums, each orisha has its own dances with
Yemayá's dance emulating the motion of the waves, Ogún's chopping with his
machete, Oshún's portraying her primping in front of her hand held mirror, etc.
Therefore these movements become more danced prayers than what the Western
European would refer to as dance.
Everything
present at a bembé whether it is song, dance, rhythm or colors used, becomes
part of an intricate fabric of prayer saluting, praising and calling to the
orishas and asking them to be present.
and
calling the orishas to be with us.
