KENYA: TEN DRUMMERS CLAIM TO SET THE WORLD RECORD BY DRUMMING THE LONGEST, 100 HOURS, FOR PEACE

Record ID: 657458

  • Title: KENYA: TEN DRUMMERS CLAIM TO SET THE WORLD RECORD BY DRUMMING THE LONGEST, 100 HOURS, FOR PEACE
  • Date: 1st March 2005
  • Summary: (L!1) NAIROBI, KENYA (MARCH 01, 2004) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DRUMMERS AND PEOPLE LOOKING ON (2 SHOTS) VARIOUS OF DRUMMERS ON PODIUM WITH RECORD BANNER (5 SHOTS) MCU (English) DRUMMER, ONGETI MAGATI SAYING: "We are mixing the Kenyan drum with the West African drum. This is Djembe and that's Maboomboomboom from Kenya - Coast province. The Luo drums and the Kamba drums, we h
  • Embargoed: 16th March 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NAIROBI, KENYA
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Entertainment,General,Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA58LKCKL8TJ5VUBZYPYTV8DXOF
  • Story Text: Ten drummers claim to set the world record by drumming the longest, 100 hours, for peace.
    The success of this ambitious cultural event saw Kenya set a world record.
    Dubbed Sarakasi Festival 2005, the event, which started at 0815 GMT on Friday (February 25) saw ten Kenyans drumming continuously for 100 hours. The event kicked off in Nairobi city centre at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre's main quadrangle on Friday morning and came to an end on Tuesday (March 1) at 1215 GMT, setting a new world record.
    The ten drummers at the Sarakasi festival come from a diverse backgrounds and are using a wide range of instruments including percussion and wind instruments.
    "We are mixing the Kenyan drum with the West African drum. This is Djembe and that's Maboomboomboom from Kenya - Coast province. The Luo drums and the Kamba drums, we have percussion." said drummer Ongeti Magati, a few hours before they finished the marathon race.
    There was neither independent confirmation of the claim nor was there an official from the Guinness Book of World Records to verify the claim.
    The unique event is of particular importance as drumming forms a vital part among many Kenyan and African cultures. It also attracted several thousand enthusiasts over the five day period.
    "It is the soul of Africa, there is hardly any African community that does not play the drum and it has mystified even other communities because the drumbeats bring out something right from the depths of the soul of a man." said Alan Oyugi, a drumming enthusiast.
    It's not clear when or where the previous record was set but it is said to have been 75 hours of drumming.
    The drummers were joined by dancers on the final countdown to the 100 hours. After the celebrations they were awarded certificates by officials from the culture ministry.
    The event, organised by the Ministry of Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services, and Sarakasi Trust, is part of a nationwide programme aimed at sensitising Kenyans and Africans in general about their culture and how better to harness it to bring about sustainable development.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Audio restrictions: This clip's Audio includes copyrighted material. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing the audio contained in this clip.
Register