On Wednesday Daniel "Stompie" Selibe of South Africa brought his musical and artistic gifts to Brandeis in his performance and lecture, "Talking Drum." Stompie's visit was arranged through Professor Pam Allera (FA) in conjunction with the Rose Art Museum's "Coexistence: Contemporary Cultural Production in South Africa" exhibit. Stompie's amazing skill on the drum and mbira or thumb piano astounded the crowd of students, professors, and members of the Brandeis community, which continued to grow as his performance attracted curious onlookers in the Shapiro atrium. Stompie was born in the town of Chiawelo, Soweto in South Africa. After putting himself through grade school, he entered the Artist Proof Studio in Johannesburg, where he honed his skill as an accomplished printmaker. Stompie became an integral part of The Artist Proof Studio's Paper Prayers Campaign. The Paper Prayers project is based on the Japanese practice of offering painted prints as a form of healing for the ill.

Stompie conducted Paper Prayers workshops to increase awareness and raise funds to donate to the children of HIV-positive mothers. Yet upon traveling to townships in South Africa and hearing the music of these communities, Stompie also began working in music therapy. He now attends university in Johannesburg, South Africa conducting his post-graduate studies in art therapy.

Before his "Talking Drum" performance, Stompie gave a talk on the concept of art and music therapy and the ability of the arts to foster a sense of community and sharing. Music therapy, Stompie related, was similar to art therapy in that the songs allowed people to reflect on their feelings thus be open to sharing the experiences of their lives.

Stompie described art therapy as a form of communication through visual literacy in which an individual reflects on the unknowns and emotions of his or her life through interacting with a presented image. Stompie believed that through communicating with image, one is able to open up inner wounds, thereby creating a safe space in which to find oneself through art.

Stompie also remarked on the difference in artistic processes between the United States and South Africa. Professor Allera responded that in America we think of an art as a individual process, a painter or sculptor for example working alone in their studio creating their work. He continued to say, in South Africa art is a form of community expression and cooperative effort that helps bring the society closer together.

At "Talking Drum," Stompie sold his CDs as well as his paper prints. His black and white and color prints depicted fascinating abstract designs and compelling, troubling scenes of South African life. Yet what made the prints on sale even more remarkable was that they were saved from a fire that almost destroyed the Artist Proof Studio.

Money raised from the sale of Stompie's prints went to buying a new printing press for the Artist Proof Studio. Desiree Horwitz said of Stompie's prints, "The artist does fantastic work. It's a shame what happened and it is great if we can do all in our power to help."

Stompie began his performance with a compelling, moving piece on his drum, his hands moving so rapidly and forcefully that all his motions blended together with the powerful sounds created by the beautiful instrument. The driving force and haunting beats during "Talking Drum" left listeners spell bound as the reverberations resounded through the space of the Shapiro Campus Center atrium. The heartfelt sounds resonating from Stompie's drum seemed almost to be actually talking with the audience, relating the difficult yet resilient spirit of South Africa, its people and its heritage. Stompie then played a piece on the mbira, deftly handling the tiny keys with great skill and grace. "I thought his rhythms were inspirational. His passion for his work came through in his relationship with his instruments," Eva Stern '03 commented.

Next, as to give a first hand demonstration of the music therapy process, Stompie passed out percussion instruments, mainly maracas, and gave participation instructions to the audience. Though people were hesitant to play, the audience quickly loosened up and were soon dancing and shaking their maracas along with the energetic, powerful beats of his drum. Stompie's philosophy of music therapy allowing people to open up and be more expressive of their inner emotions certainly proved true.