What a West African Drum Can Teach About Community | Baba Cedrick Ogunrinde | TEDxThird Ward Salon

In this TEDx talk, Baba Cedrick invites us to see the djembe not just as an instrument, but as a living model for community. By breaking down its parts, (i.e. the shell, the skin, the rings, and the rope) he reveals a powerful insight he learned from the djembe: strong communities are built through intentional roles, shared tension, and connection. Blending storytelling, cultural wisdom, and live drumming, he challenges us to rethink leadership, honor emerging voices, and understand tension not as a threat, but as the source of harmony. Baba Cedrick (Abiono) Ogunrinde is a master West African drummer, educator, and culture bearer whose work explores rhythm as a pathway to connection, healing, and community. A Djembefola with over three decades of study, he trained under renowned masters including Famadou Konaté, Mamady Keita, and the late Bernard Woma. His musical lineage spans Guinea, Mali, Ghana, and Nigeria, and his artistry has appeared on global stages, from professional dance companies and theater productions to the film Coming 2 America, where he both performed and helped craft authentic African music.



As a teaching artist, Baba Cedrick works with people of all ages through schools, cultural organizations, and experiential workshops. Grounded in ancestral tradition and academic study, his work uses West African drumming and dance as a conduit for emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual healing, reminding us that community, like rhythm, is something we choose to build together. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx