Pupils feel the African beat

The sounds of Africa echoed through Lowe’s Wong Junior School, Southwell, as pupils took part in drumming workshops.

The workshops, led by Nottinghamshire County Council’s Arts Support Service, involved singing African songs and then adding percussion instruments.

Pupils were taught to use traditional African instruments, including djembe and djun drums, as well as rattles called shekere and caxixa.

The drums are made from wood and animal skin.

Pupils learnt an African welcome song called Nanuma.

During the week all pupils took part in one of several workshops, which were linked to the school’s partnership with a school in Burkina Faso, West Africa.

One of the percussion teachers, Mr Nick Scarr, said: “The school has an African focus so the idea was to learn an African song and add drums to it.”