Uncle Raghu has drumming in his veins

From left uncle Raghu with Dinho and Pradesh

“Jhal,” Uncle Raghu shouts, as he beats a huge drum down the East Coast Highway. We were at the back of a pick-up truck and he was shouting at one of his students, who was tasked with knocking the Jhal together. The Jhal is actually a miniature cymbal.

From left uncle Raghu with Dinho and Pradesh
From left uncle Raghu with Dinho and Pradesh

Uncle Raghu is one of the most renowned drummers in Guyana. He is 67 years old and has been playing the drums since he was a child. He has a semi-circle of white hair, wrinkles of experience and hands that are strong like bamboo.

Uncle Raghu can make nineteen drums, including African drums. He is a former teacher of Mathematics, but drumming is in his veins. The retired teacher now teaches children to play the drums, and plays at Indian cultural events, mostly weddings.   I first met Uncle Raghu at the National Cultural Centre; he was at a rehearsal for a rendition of the epic religious Indian play, Ramlila.

I introduced myself to him. He smiled and said, “Ohh, you’s the boy that wanna do an article for Stabroek News…well listen man, a got a wedding tomorrow, if you wanna see what the drumming is really like, you got to come to de wedding to really understand de thing.” And that was it, I was invited to my first Hindu wedding and my heart pounded with excitement.

The next morning I found myself in a bus to Atlantic Gardens. When I arrived, I called Uncle Raghu and asked him for directions. “Oh ya here, well listen