Retumbar do Meu Tambor
Rogê
The Resonance of Ancestral Rhythms: A Journey Through African Heritage
Rogê's song "Retumbar do Meu Tambor" is a vibrant celebration of African heritage and its profound influence on various cultures and musical styles across the globe. The lyrics take the listener on a journey from Angola, Guinea, Congo, and Dahomey, highlighting the deep roots of African rhythms and their powerful resonance. The song pays homage to the rich traditions of the Mandingas from Mali and the Ashanti drums, emphasizing the unbreakable connection between the artist's music and his African ancestry.
The chorus of the song proudly declares the artist's identity as a fusion of diverse African musical genres such as cumbia, mambo, lundu, guaguancó, carimbó, and maracatu. Rogê acknowledges that his music is a direct result of Africa's cultural export, enriched by the spiritual guidance of inquices and orixás, deities from Afro-Brazilian religions. This spiritual connection is portrayed as a path to peace, with the drum's beat symbolizing resilience and strength.
The song also explores the African diaspora's impact on different regions, from the vodum practices in Haiti to the batucada rhythms of Olodum in Salvador, Brazil. Rogê even touches on the blues tradition in New Orleans, where African-American musicians have shaped the genre. The recurring theme of resistance and the concept of 'axé'—a Yoruba term for life force or spiritual energy—underscore the enduring power and influence of African culture. The repetitive call to "retumba tambor" (resound, drum) serves as a powerful reminder of the drum's central role in preserving and celebrating African heritage, spirituality, and resilience.