Mr Joseph Ayanniyi, Chairman, Association of Professional Talking Drummers of Nigeria (APTDON), Kwara South Chapter, in the act of talking drum fabrication in Omu-Aran, Irepodun LGA of Kwara
The Chairman of the Association of Professional Talking Drummers of Nigeria (APTDON) in Kwara State, Mr Joseph Ayanniyi, has called on the government and other stakeholders in the arts and craft industry to save talking drums from extinction.
Ayanniyi, a fabricator of talking drum, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Omu-Aran, Kwara State.
Ayanniyi appealed to government and other stakeholders to invest in the production of the drums to revive the craft.
He said if urgent steps were not taken to revive the craft, especially at the grassroots, it would become extinct.
The craftsman also decried the dearth of apprentices in the art and the current low patronage and sued for immediate intervention.
He said the industry needed urgent intervention to save it from extinction.
According to him, such intervention will make it a relevant tool for the promotion of the nation’s culture, tradition and heritage.
He said the craft of making talking drums and its use as a musical instrument was threatened by the low patronage and inadequate government support.
Ayanniyi decried the development whereby the business of talking drum fabrication and sales ” is now only patronised by those with its historical lineage.”
“People hardly come forward now to indicate their interest in learning the trade.
“Series of promises have been made by government to develop the entertainment industry but nothing tangible has been done in respect to supporting the talking drum business.
“Musical entertainment across the six geo-political zones of the country cannot be said to be complete without the use of talking drum.
“Regrettably, the business is now predominantly being practised and sustained by those of us with hereditary attachment to the craft of making talking drums,” he said.
The APTDON boss described the talking drum craft as “very lucrative”, pointing out that it could also assist in checkmating the high rate of youth unemployment, insurgency, banditry, armed robbery and kidnappings if given adequate support by government.
He recalled that some years ago, the Federal Government, through the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), engaged some apprentices in the making of talking drums.
“Then, those that were engaged in the business as apprentices received stipends like other numerous trades in partnership with NDE which was the magic wand that attracted many people to partake,’’ Ayanniyi said.
Ayanniyi, who specialises in fabricating and selling different kinds of talking drums and other accessories in Omu-Aran, said such opportunity was no longer there.
He called for effective synergy between government and community leaders to ensure adequate support for the development of the nation’s entertainment industry.
“This could be through provision of credit facility and loan for practitioners and other policy incentives to develop the sector, ” he said.
He, however, lauded the incumbent administration for its policy of massive investment in culture and tourism toward diversifying the nation’s economic base. (NAN)
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