By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – The community is invited to a peace gathering this Saturday that organizers hope will be the biggest drum circle Buffalo has ever seen. The Power of Peace and Healing day begins at the Church on Delaware with a drum workshop by master drummer Fred Goodnight. It continues in the evening with an event that will feature ceremonies to heal the spirit of the community - and to heal the trees devastated by the October storm.
Master drummer M'Bayne Diagne came to Buffalo from Senegal to spread the rhythm of peace. But he uses a powerful weapon to spread that message. The jembe is locked between M'Bayne's knees, as he sits answering its every command. Through it, he said mother earth has the power to heal anything.
The jembe and M'Bayne both get a work out as he pounds out the rhythms that tell stories of coming together, or life, and of healing. Sweat pours from his dark forehead and body onto the taught skin covered jembe.
M'Bayne smiles the wide inviting smile that is his signature. With gleaming eyes and smile he coaxes the most timid child or adult to sit and play. Peter Nasvytis sits in on the drum circle this evening. He has known M'Bayne since he came to Buffalo and says he's the "real deal."
M'Bayne's leathery palms pound out the stories with ferocious intensity as the others in the drum circle follow his lead. They hold the beat in unison or in overlapping patterns. As the spirit moves them. Incense fills the air as the intimate circle of five grows to six and then to seven.
Paula Connors and her husband Kevin have come to M'Bayne's living room on this evening too. Connors is outreach director for Peace Weavers, the group sponsoring Saturday's community Peace Gathering. She said M'Bayne's skills mesh with their mission of bringing greater peace to Buffalo.
And Connors said Buffalo is lacking true vehicles for expressing peace. Connors said she has attended a lot of anti-war protests. But Connors said that is not at all where they are coming from.
She said Peace weavers invited the entire community to take part in the events they sponsor. She called the 15 year-old not-for-profit group spiritual but not specific to any one religion or tradition.
Connors said a lot of what they do is about helping people to reconnect with their roots and with each other. She said that will be the focus the event on Saturday.
She said there will also be a talking stick circle, allowing people to pass along their special understanding of what peace means to them. And there will be a special healing ceremony for the trees that were damaged by the storm in October.
Connors said that also provides an opportunity to raise everyone's awareness of how disconnected from the earth we have become.
The day of drumming and peace begins with a drum workshop at 11:30 AM. The peace gathering begins at 7:00 PM. Both events are being held in the Church on Delaware Avenue. Tickets are available in advance or at the door. All ages are welcome - and all are encouraged to bring a drum.
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