original udu making in Nigeria - Eugene Skeef's udu project

[punkster35]

whats the name of the music?

[eugeneskeef]

@punkster35 The music is called "Closer" and it is a composition by myself and members of my group Umoya Ensemble.

[wearoscarwile]

Have you seen Frank Giorgini's work with the Udu? He just put out a DVD called The Art of the Udu Drum Volume 1: Making the Drum. It's pretty in-depth stuff, especially if any of you potters are interested in making these. I just play them. :)

[GregoryCulverSmith]

i miss my udu and love this music. can you tell me who it is? or any artists like it?

[jmg1957]

well done.

[jmg1957]

nice..

[venetiancat]

What a great video. I am a potter, and I love making drums, and your video has inspired me to make more. I am impressed by how thin and even the walls of the pots are. Do you find that thinner walls create better tome? I also love the idea of putting a handle on the pot-so practical! Thank you so much for the work you do and for sharing this video : )

[Lacerdha]

Muito bom mostrar a cultura artistica de outros povos

[TheNomercy12]

up god  of igbos who gave udu rythm the highest spiritual bass percusion instrumental ,thank god for my ancestral gift of inspirations, igbo tibe udu oo.

[korasol]

Udu, my village youths use to dance a tradi. dance called UDU ASAA b/c the drum used to beat the music is only 7 udu, lol you need to see this dance, no folklore dance mathes it.

actually our parish choir sings with udu 3, a bigger, smaller and smallest, they represented Imo at Abuja early last year, they are one of the most things I miss at home, watch the track on my page (Ezi Nne Bu Ihe)

[eugeneskeef]

Thanks very much for your comment. Please send me more information about the traditional dance you mention. I plan to make another trip to Nigerian possibly this year and I would love to visit your village to witness and experience the udu traditions there. Please send me as much info as you can let me have. I will visit your link and watch the track.

All the best

Eugene

[sal0212]

I saw this a year ago and recently saw it again, I can only say - Amazing!

Has this ever been performed, I would love to see it?

[eugeneskeef]

Thanks for your comment. Yes this has been performed in London. In a few months I will be running a series of udu making and playing workshops in the Liverpool International Slavery Museum in the UK to bestow a positive energy. This will be open to anyone and everyone. A DVD will be produced to share the spirit...

Peace and love

Eugene

[1019drummer]

love it..........

[bruin03]

Nothing beats human ingenuity.

[ceci97439]

Amazing. As potters we have so many "tools" of the trade. As evidence of these fine women potters of Nigeria...we really don't need all those tools do we?

[Rogers1977]

How the crap can they shape the body that fast?! It's crazy! Do they have like a piece and go around the edge adding clay? That's what it looks like to me. I can't believe that lady at 1:17 just licks the tool she's using to get it moist!!

[hobbexp]

its so warm ther so the clay dry fast, thats what i think,

[Y3MZ1]

@hobbexp No, at this point the pots are being transported to be fired so it doesn't matter if they are drying fast, it seems like a daring move but they are used to carrying objects this way :)

[hobbexp]

@Y3MZ1

if its water in the clay when they fire the pots they will crack,

[biafraisnotdead]

Udu! Igbo people and their creativeness. See what their ancestors did!

[ucmc45]

am igbo man and am proud. this is my culture.i just wonna say thanks to my ancestors,look at what they created it has gone world wide. how could they know?

[sisterforall]

The Power of Women, thanks for charing...

[jifblumoon]

2:55 -daring maneuver!

[Rogers1977]

I know. My heart like skipped a beat.

[Duartesano]

falto el sonido de las negras al final por pao culiao

[hayyalife]

I had a dream last night and kept hearing the word "udu". So I looked it up today and I found this. I am so amazed.

[fsdrm12]

thanks for the viewing of culture, im working on an Udu drum in my ceramics class, this was inspiring for sure.

[zeph4x]

i like how they used the hemp rope to texture it, and the music is great 5*

[Doctran]

Instead of the recorded music (which was beautiful) I would like to hear the songs these people have. I have an udu and have my own rhythms, but I'd like to hear the originals. Thanks for posting this.

[yenyere]

very moving...

[legendaryRose]

amazing!!!! 5 stars!!!! eugene thnx alot !!!

[LoneGranger]

thank you for sharing this video. a beautiful tradition and skill.

[eugeneskeef]

They also use partly broken pots to hold smaller "baby" pots so they will survive the firing. You might be interested to know that an pen firing like they do reaches about 900 degrees Celsius. This resuolts in relatively fragile pots, but this gives the Igbo people the gentle udu sound they prefer. You probably know that the intensity of the fire also determines the tone of the body sound.

Thanks for your positive comment.

Eugene

[jonnda]

I found that out the hard way. I ruined 4 udus @ cone 10 before i figured out that it was killing the sound. Those women have amazing hand building skills, I am in shock and awe.... if only i could do that.

[eugeneskeef]

Yes, they are steeped in the culture of making and playing udus for ceremonial and recreational purposes. Remember, they are the inventors of the instrument. It is part of their being. I had the greatest time hanging out with these beautiful people. The odd pot will break, because that is nature; but then they crush the shards and add these to the clay mixture for the next batch of pots.

Eugene

[invisibird]

Wow, I was really surprised by how they fired the pots right out in the open air like that. Do they usual suffer much breakage? It looks like they don't, which is pretty impressive. From the experience I've had firing, I wouldn't have guessed that you could fire such large pots like that, so quickly, in an open air fire. I guess they have the system down though!

[abipordha]

it's amazing how much effort is needed to shape an udu in this way! them sem to embody the real meaning of music, of an alive music.

[emrtjr]

Hi Eugene,

It is emily rosner, friend of rae howel.

I'm so sorry it has been so long but I did recieve a disk from you of the udu project but it did not work with my equipment?? Not sure why but I am still really keen to get a copy. I am sorry for the bother.

EMILY

[matiasluna]

these people are amazing, they reaally know how to survive

[bruin03]

Most human beings know how to survive. Take away most of our luxuries and our innate human ingenuity will take. over. Necessity is the best teacher.

[eugeneskeef]

Thanks very much for your comments. Your positive response inspires me to continue with this work. All the best...

[antonkoren]

amazing, thank you

[nnennaadora]

Wow, this video was amazing. Thanks for posting it. Very informative. Thanks for helping to keep Igbo culture alive. What village was this filmed?

[Mrgyn]

I will also purchase the DVD if you get to that stage. :D

[eugeneskeef]

Thanks for your positive comment. No, the film is not yet on DVD. However, I am encouraged by your inspiring words to get onto that stage. What you saw is just a few minutes of many, many hours of footage I shot.

I am aware of Frank Giorgini's work. Great stuff! You are fortunate to have met Abbas M. Ahuwan.

Thanks again

Eugene Skeef

[uduboy]

Just wonderful. I really really enjoyed your film. My introduction to the world of udu came through Frank Giorgini a master potter and tile designer located in New York some 20 plus years ago. I also have had the extreme pleasure of meeting and getting to know Abbas M. Ahuwan, Kaja Master Potter who shared the art of Nigerian Pottery with the US back in 1973. Thank you for sharing this footage with all of us. Is this film available on video or DVD? Please let me know - Thanks.

[barzdelight]

Hey do u happen to kno a folk song about Udu. My mum was singing it to me recently and I loved it. It's called 'Udum nji chu mmiri'.

[eugeneskeef]

no i have not heard that song. please send me a recording of it if you can.

thanx

eugene

[fishgrass]

hello!

i would love to get this background tune aswell, if its possible :)

how long did they burn them?

we make udus in a local clay workshop aswell. we use ovens though.

[eugeneskeef]

hi fishgrass. thanks for your comment. these women work very fast in a country that is very hot most of the time. they work on several pots at a time, placing the ready ones to dry in the baking hot sun while they finish others. the firing process is a couple of hours at the most.

peace

eugene

[eugeneskeef]

i recently came across my diary of that trip to enugu in eastern nigeria. it makes interesting reading. i plan to type the story out and place it on the internet. i will inform you when this has happened in the next few days. all the information is in there.

as for the music track, please send me an address where i can post a cd. i can add other similar tracks from that period.

where can i see images and hear samples of your udus?

[nadaquefazer]

the best part is applying the udu to music and dance!! Very Inspiring!!

[cristinaart]

excelent!super!

[evamaquess]

¡Muy hermoso!, felicidades es bueno adquirir documentales de esta manera.

[sal0212]

Where can I get the music from?

[eugeneskeef]

Hi, thanks for your interest in my music. It is not released yet, but I can send you a copy of the soundtrack and other similar stuff if you give me your email address.

Cheers

Eugene Skeef

[jacksaccount]

Thank you for posting this video

[rash48]

this is more than legend!

[AFROROOTS]

EXCELLENT!!!