The history of music dates back to 50,000 years, and the djembe drum accounts for 500-odd of those. Although its historical origin is not known, the djembe is more than a musical instrument in West Africa; its literal meaning translates into "gather everyone," and it is played during family rituals, agricultural activities and even to settle dispute. This Sunday, meet Bill Scheidt, an American who is a senior certified teacher of the Tam Tam Mandingue Djembe Academy, a school founded by djembe grandmaster Mamady Keita. He aims to introduce people to the instrument of joy with a structured approach at a workshop with Varun Venkit, director of Taal Inc.

How were you introduced to the djembe drum?
I first fell in love with drum in 1997 during my first trip to Africa. I wrote a grant to study wildlife ecology, and while there learned to speak the language, lived with local families and began to study the music. I later met my teacher, Mamady Keita, dropped my ecological pursuits, and dedicated my life to the djembe. For almost 20 years now, I have spent my life travelling the world studying, teaching and performing with this amazing instrument!