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Central Texas Youth Group drums for Black History Month

The Songhai Bamboo Roots Association plays the Djembe drums year-round, keeping a centuries-old tradition alive.

KILLEEN, Texas — The tradition of playing djembe drums for tribal communication in West Africa is centuries years old. Drummers would drum the djembe and village members would approach. A Central Texas youth group called the Songhai Bamboo Roots Association is trying to keep the tradition alive by playing like their Caribbean and African ancestors once did.

"Like actually participating in the things that they did when they were younger, doing it ourselves too," said Xylia Golden of the Songhai Bamboo Roots Association. 

The five drummers that 6 News got to see play on Feb. 3 are cousins of Haitian descent. Black ties to the Caribbean are often forgotten during Black History Month.

The youth drummers of the Songhai Bamboo Roots Association take advantage of the benefits that playing the drums can bring. Some of those benefits relate to mental health, according to Abrianna Golden.

"I play with my emotions so whenever I feel it, the drums feel it," said Golden. 

One member of the association told 6 News about a memory she has of one of her fellow drummers. 

"One time we were practicing and she was like 'boom, boom, boom', and I was like 'What happened at school today?'" said Ja-Nay Radcliff. 

There are even behavioral benefits to playing the djembe drums, according to youth group organizer Rodney Duckett.

"Drumming is a very tactile operation and it works well with kids who sometimes have issues sitting still," said Duckett.

Duckett also uses the drums for troubled kids in the juvenile justice system. 

"It keeps us disciplined," said Abrianna Golden.  

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