They have been doing this for over 200 years — celebrating life through the art of music and dance, even during the darkest era of slavery.
The drumming event that happens every Sunday at Congo Square in New Orleans carries both celebratory and poignant energy for me, even as an outsider to the culture and the city.
Yet, I feel one with the struggles endured by the slaves, the Africans, and the Native Americans. This is why I let the Muses take me away, move me. I dance, and I drum to the sounds at Congo Square.
My memories of Sunday afternoons at Congo Square are strong.
I am not mystical. But feelings don’t lie.
When I am in Congo Square listening to my brothers and sisters drumming and dancing without a spoken word, it’s like the Muses have taken over them. They are on a higher plane.
The same plane where their ancestors danced and sang. And when their tongues were cut off, they made instruments and played them. The Muses took over them, they couldn’t be stopped.
They were enslaved, made to work for their captors, day and night. They were sold, tortured, raped, traded. Little was left of them, for them.
But they had Sunday afternoons for themselves. They did the one thing they could — celebrate. Celebrate their lives amidst the tragedy. They say that the Muses connect with you when you are true to yourself.
I believe that’s what happened. For over 200 years, the Muses have been connecting with us at Congo Square.
There is something special about the atmosphere when they start drumming and dancing — you can feel the energy right through you. That energy feels of love, unity, fraternity, compassion — a different kind of revolution. The type that doesn’t divide people.
This beautiful energy has always existed. When the Muses took notice of the “slaves” celebrating about 200 years ago, they stopped. It woke them up. It made them cry and smile. Cry for their struggles, and smile for their undaunting joy of being alive.
The Muses then decided to merge with them when they let go of their pain on Sundays at Congo Square. They weren’t slaves anymore. They weren’t even humans. They merged with the Muses and existed on a different plane. A higher place, where hate and all those vices couldn’t touch them.
All the pain from the beatings they took, the struggles when being chained and forced to walk was transmuted into this beautiful energy when they drummed and dance at Congo Square.
This beautiful energy stayed there and it blossomed and flowered. And it’s still there. It just carries you to a higher plane. Stay quiet, and stay humble — you will feel it.
when the drums beat
and the dancers dance,
there is a quietness
that merges the past, present, and future
into one beautiful hymn
and takes you to the heavens.
—
Previously Published on medium
***
You Might Also Like These From The Good Men Project
Compliments Men Want to Hear More Often | Relationships Aren’t Easy, But They’re Worth It | The One Thing Men Want More Than Sex | ..A Man’s Kiss Tells You Everything |
Join The Good Men Project as a Premium Member today.
All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS.
A $50 annual membership gives you an all access pass. You can be a part of every call, group, class and community.
A $25 annual membership gives you access to one class, one Social Interest group and our online communities.
A $12 annual membership gives you access to our Friday calls with the publisher, our online community.
Register New Account
Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here.
—
stock photo ID: 1321740866