A new life
From then on, Zhao’s life was never the same. “After the first time I studied with Keïta, something changed. I realized that if I played well, maybe I could change my life. So I quit my job and opened a studio to teach the djembe.”
This life-changing decision surprised his family and friends, who considered the djembe to be only a hobby. In spite of his parents’ disapproval, Zhao went ahead with his decision and today, the former journalist is more satisfied than ever with his decision. “After school, my dream was to travel around the world, and see different oceans, different cities. Sometimes I had money but no time, sometimes I had time, but no money. Teaching the djembe I cannot make a lot of money, but I travel around the world. So my dream came true.”
Every year, Zhao attends Keïta’s workshops, organized all over the world. By pursuing his passion for the djembe, he has visited the United States, Japan, Mexico and Guinea. His admiration for the African drummer is clear: “He is like my father,” Zhao told Chinafrica, praising the wisdom of the 66-year-old djembefola. know about the culture because culture is very important. I always tell my students why we play the djembe: because we want to connect with different cultures, different people, and different countries,” explained Zhao, now 35.
The instrument has been a tool of cultural exchange for a long time. After Guinea’s independence from France in 1958, the first president of the country, Ahmed Sékou Touré, was determined to promote Guinean culture around the world. To this purpose, he funded various dance companies, aiming to spread traditional Guinean dance and music.
In addition to their cultural goal, these troupes allowed Touré to bring together the customs and rites of different ethnic groups of the country, reinforcing the cultural identity of Guineans. The impact of this cultural focus is still visible in the country, as confirmed by Zhao. “Guinea has the best music in this world. Everyone is a musician, the women sing and dance, the men play the guitar and the djembe.”