The Barrel of the Drum by Kamau Brathwaite

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General Introduction

“The Barrel of the Drum” is a poem from Kamau Brathwaite's collection Masks, which delves into the deep cultural and spiritual heritage of the African diaspora. In this poem, Brathwaite explores the creation of a drum from the tweneduru tree, a process rich in symbolic and cultural significance. The poem reflects on themes of transformation, communication, and the inherent connection between nature and the human experience. Brathwaite's evocative language and imagery bring to life the spiritual and physical journey of turning wood into a drum, a central element in many African and Caribbean traditions.

The Barrel of the Drum by Kamau Brathwaite

For this we choose wood

of the tweneduru tree:

hard  duru  wood

with  the  hollow  blood

that makes a womb.

Here in this silence

we  hear the wounds

of the forest

we hear the sounds

of the rivers;

vowels  of  reed-

lips,pebbles

of consonants,

underground   dark

of the continent.

You  dumb  adom  wood

will be bent,

will  be  solemnly  bent,belly

rounded  with  fire,wound-

ed with tools

that will shape you.

You will bleed,

cedar  dark,

when we cut you;

speak,when we touch you.

 

 Title

The title “The Barrel of the Drum” focuses on the core part of the drum, which is its barrel. This part is crucial as it defines the drum's shape and sound. The title emphasizes the importance of the drum's body and hints at the poem's exploration of its creation and transformation from wood to a powerful musical instrument.

 Stanza by Stanza Analysis

1. Lines 1-5:

   - "For this we choose wood / of the tweneduru tree: / hard duru wood / with the hollow blood / that makes a womb."

   - The poem begins with the careful selection of the tweneduru tree's wood, highlighting its specific qualities: hardness and hollowness. The description of the wood as having "hollow blood" and creating a "womb" suggests it holds potential and life, embodying the essence required for the drum's creation.

2. Lines 6-9:

   - "Here in this silence / we hear the wounds / of the forest / we hear the sounds"

   - The silence surrounding the chosen wood is pregnant with the echoes of the forest’s life and history. The phrase "hear the wounds" implies a deep listening, recognizing the scars and stories embedded in the forest. This connects the natural world to the cultural significance of the drum.

3. Lines 10-13:

   - "of the rivers; / vowels of reed- / lips, pebbles / of consonants,"

   - The poem moves from the forest to the rivers, where sounds are anthropomorphized into language elements: "vowels of reed-lips" and "pebbles of consonants." This imagery suggests that nature itself communicates in a language, contributing to the drum's voice.

4. Lines 14-16:

   - "underground dark / of the continent. / You dumb adom wood"

   - The poem delves into the "underground dark" of the continent, connecting the wood to the deep and ancient roots of African culture and history. The "dumb adom wood" refers to the silent, unshaped state of the wood, awaiting transformation into a drum that can speak.

5. Lines 17-21:

   - "will be bent, / will be solemnly bent, belly / rounded with fire, wound- / ed with tools / that will shape you."

   - The transformation process is described as a ritualistic bending and shaping of the wood. The use of fire and tools to mold the wood into the drum's form suggests both pain and craftsmanship, highlighting the reverence and skill involved in the creation.

6. Lines 22-25:

   - "You will bleed, / cedar dark, / when we cut you; / speak, when we touch you."

   - The poem concludes with the imagery of the wood bleeding when cut, emphasizing its living essence. This bleeding signifies the release of the wood’s inherent spirit, which will enable the drum to "speak" once crafted. The final line underscores the idea that the drum's voice is unlocked through human touch and craftsmanship.

 Themes

1. Transformation and Craftsmanship:

   - The poem explores the transformation of raw wood into a drum through skilled craftsmanship. This process is depicted as both a physical and spiritual journey, where the wood undergoes a profound change to become a musical instrument.

2. Nature and Culture:

   - The connection between the natural elements (forest, rivers, wood) and cultural artifacts (the drum) is central to the poem. Brathwaite emphasizes how natural resources are imbued with cultural significance and are integral to artistic expression.

3. Communication and Voice:

   - The drum, created from the silent wood, becomes a powerful voice that can communicate the stories and sounds of the continent. This theme reflects the drum's role in African and Caribbean traditions as a medium for storytelling, music, and cultural transmission.

4. Spiritual and Ancestral Connections:

   - The drum's creation is linked to the deeper spiritual and ancestral roots of the African continent. The "underground dark" and the reverence for the wood's transformation highlight a connection to the ancestral past and the sacredness of cultural practices.

5. Suffering and Creation:

   - The imagery of the wood being wounded and bleeding during its transformation suggests that creation involves suffering. This theme underscores the idea that the birth of something meaningful and powerful often comes through pain and sacrifice.

 Structure and Form

The poem is written in free verse, allowing the natural flow of ideas and imagery to mimic the organic process of the drum's creation. The lack of a strict rhyme scheme or meter reflects the flexibility and fluidity of the transformation described. The enjambment and the spacing of lines create a rhythmic and almost musical quality, aligning with the theme of the drum and its role in producing sound and rhythm.

 Literary Devices

1. Imagery:

   - Rich and vivid imagery brings the poem to life, such as "hollow blood that makes a womb," "vowels of reed-lips," and "belly rounded with fire." These images help convey the sensory and spiritual dimensions of the drum-making process.

2. Personification:

   - Nature is personified with phrases like "vowels of reed-lips" and "pebbles of consonants," giving the elements of the forest and rivers human-like qualities that contribute to the drum's voice.

3. Metaphor:

   - The wood’s transformation into a drum serves as a metaphor for the process of creation and the birth of cultural artifacts from natural resources. The drum's voice is a metaphor for the expression and communication of cultural and spiritual truths.

4. Symbolism:

   - The tweneduru wood symbolizes potential and life, while its transformation into a drum represents the realization of that potential and the birth of cultural expression. The act of bleeding and speaking symbolizes the release of the wood's spirit and its newfound voice.

5. Repetition:

   - The repetition of phrases like "will be bent, / will be solemnly bent" and "you will bleed" emphasizes the ritualistic and transformative aspects of the drum-making process.

6. Contrast:

   - The contrast between the silent, unshaped wood and the speaking drum highlights the dramatic change that occurs through the crafting process, emphasizing the drum's emergence as a powerful voice from a previously silent object.

 Language and Diction

Brathwaite's language is both evocative and precise, with a mix of technical terms related to drum-making and poetic descriptions of natural elements. The diction is ceremonial and reverent, reflecting the sacred nature of the drum's creation and its cultural significance. Words like "solemnly," "wounded," and "speak" carry weight and contribute to the poem's contemplative and respectful tone.

 Mood and Tone

The mood of the poem is reverent and contemplative, capturing the solemnity of the drum-making process. There is a sense of respect for both the natural world and the cultural practices that transform it. The tone is ceremonial and reflective, emphasizing the spiritual and cultural importance of the drum and the craftsmanship involved in its creation.

 Context

Kamau Brathwaite's work often explores the cultural and historical connections of the African diaspora. "The Barrel of the Drum" reflects his interest in traditional practices and their significance in contemporary Caribbean identity. The drum, as a central instrument in African and Caribbean music, symbolizes the continuity and vitality of cultural heritage. Brathwaite’s depiction of its creation speaks to the resilience and adaptability of these traditions in the face of historical challenges.

 Conclusion

“The Barrel of the Drum” by Kamau Brathwaite is a profound meditation on the transformation of natural elements into cultural artifacts. Through vivid imagery and rich symbolism, Brathwaite explores themes of craftsmanship, communication, and the deep spiritual connections inherent in cultural practices. The poem celebrates the drum as a powerful voice emerging from the silent wood, embodying the resilience and creativity of the African diaspora. Brathwaite's reverent and contemplative language underscores the sacredness of this transformation, making the poem a poignant reflection on the enduring significance of cultural traditions.