The chanting episode

This was it, I had arranged to meet all the Rastafarians at Jased's house, they were going to chant for me. I felt deeply honoured as not many people are allowed to record this very spiritual event.

The three drums were packed in the back of my friends bakkie. One was massive, about two and a half feet in length and one foot in width. This was the bass drum. It was hit with a large plastic pipe covered in a brown cloth. The other two drums were smaller, they could comfortably sit in between one’s legs. Three home made tambourines were also put into the back. These consisted of wire with several bottle tops skewered through it. We went back to Jased’s house where eight Rastafarans were waiting for me. The eldest elder who couldn’t speak English, Benjamin, Jased, Judah, Aaron (who plays one of the smaller drums)the young Rastafari, and sister Grace. Once again the room was covered in smoke, as everyone had “licked the chalice” before I arrived. Within minutes I was lying on my back, microphone held high in the middle of the room and the bass drum started the beat. Jased had described to me the significance of each instrument. The bass drum has the slowest rhythm, and sets the pace. The deep bass represents thunder. The two smaller drums are freestyle drums, and these represents the lightning ‘dancing’ with the thunder. The tambourines, which are only used by the women I might add, represents the rain falling. It shows how everything has a balance, that nature must be celebrated. The very chalice the Rastafarians has a significance, the coconut represents the world, and the water and smoke inside once inhaled, represents the oceans and clouds of the world. All the significances astounded me. After fory minutes of chanting it ended. This time the chanting did not affect me like it did the first time. Probably becase my back was aching half the time. But what was odd was how fast fifty odd minutes seemed to go. Maybe I was day dreaming and I hadn’t actually realised it.