Drumming group needs help to keep the beat going
The Percussion Kings, a Mitchell's Plain drum line, will hold a fund-raiser next month to drum up support for the group.
The fashion show fund-raiser at the Spine Road High School on Saturday November 2 will include performances by former Pop Idols star Naz Leeman and others, and the proceeds will go toward buying new equipment for the group, according to its founder and coach Franchkino Booyse.
He says he started the group with four boys in 2021 using old church instruments. They have members from Mitchell’s Plain and Hanover Park.
The drum line, which practises every weekend at the Spine Road High School, has now grown to 15 members, aged 15 to 21, but they're still having to use the same old drum sets from the church.
Now the Percussion Kings hope to raise enough funds to supply each new member with a new drum to continue entertaining the crowds.
“Very often, we have to leave people out of performances just because we do not have enough equipment to go around.”
He joined his church band and when he went to high school he took part in the marching band and earned his Western Province Marching Association stripes.
“This is where I started marching as a cadet, but drumming always caught my ear, being the heart and soul of a song, melody or even tempo,” he says.
While still at high school, he picked up a drum and started teaching himself the art of drumming, catching the attention of his coach, who gave him a chance to join the schools drum line.
“As time went by, the love for the instrument grew to heights even I didn’t expect."
“We grew a great bond as individuals and as a drum line. We started with only four boys and there is so much interest in us and people who want to be part of the Percussion Kings, but we just can’t or actually, we are unable to grow because we don’t have the resources and equipment.”
Nubaid Cassiem, 15, of Westridge, who has been with the group for the past three years, says, “The Kings has done a lot for me. I was very new to the drumming as I arrived here with only three beats in my head that was made up, but after I joined here, I got different beats, different ways to play the beats as well,” Nubaid said.
Another member, Jesse Oliver, 21 from Tafelsig says the experience has taught him a lot about discipline and aided his personal growth.
“I love being part of the line because of its electrifying energy and I would love to take this as far as I can.”
For more information about the fund-raiser or to buy tickets, contact Judith at 084 353 0823.
