BACKGROUND

Created in 1994, the Burundian African drumming group "Umurisho Rhythm" sought to give Burundian-Canadians the chance to get back to their roots while enriching Canadian society by celebrating its diversity and openness. The Group made a remarkable entry on to the Canadian cultural scene when it took part in the Canada Day celebrations of July 1st, 1995.

Where does its name come from? Umurisho is the drumstick used to play the African drum. Umurisho, is also, and above all, the particular rhythm of each dancer.

THE SHOW

The drums are placed in a half-circle around a central drum called "the King". Every time a drummer comes on stage he places himself behind the central drum and plays his particular rhythm for all the other drummers. The group then adopts this rhythm to free up the dancer who then performs his dance. The spellbinding performance continues to the rhythm of all the group’s drummers who succeed each other on stage. During this succession, a few of the drummers also maintain the accompaniment rhythm (gukokera).

There is also another rhythm called Umuhindo or drum roll. It is a background rhythm that the other individual rhythms, or imirisho (plural of umurisho) are added to, as a counterpoint or an overlay.    The drummers performance blends singing, dancing and percussion in a divinely, spellbinding combination. In response to somebody who once asked the group’s presenter if the spectators could dance during the show as well, one person who had already seen the group perform replied spontaneously: "The question is rather if it’s possible for one not to dance during the show."