The sound of the tama, or the talking drum, is instantly recognizable. With its remarkable capacity to mimic human speech, the drum acted as a messenger of sorts in African cultures, used to announce cornerstone events and news across villages. On the soundtrack for Marvel’s 2018 blockbuster “Black Panther,” the esteemed drum supplied “the sound of the king” of the fictional land Wakanda, according to composer Ludwig Göransson. A union of an 808 and a talking drum’s imitation of the king’s name, “T’Challa,” the royal musical motif punctuated the film’s score and, on the night of March 24, the San Francisco Symphony merged with the king’s sound.
Before the symphony mesmerized its audience with the soundtrack to “Black Panther,” Davies Symphony Hall filled with applause at conductor Anthony Parnther’s brief but witty introduction. “This is not a trip to the DMV,” Parnther declared to chuckles. After poking fun at Marin County to uproarious laughter, the conductor introduced the night’s special guest: talking drum master Massamba Diop, whose drumming appears on both “Black Panther” soundtracks. Clad in neon orange robes, the musician appeared on stage to wild applause, rhythmically hitting the tama strewn over his left shoulder. Its sound reverberated throughout the hall, its hollow tone commanding.
The lights soon dimmed, and “Black Panther” sprung to life on screen, telling the story of superhero T’Challa (or Black Panther, played by Chadwick Boseman) in his rise to the Wakandan throne. It wasn’t long until the Bay Area audience erupted when “Oakland: 1992” flashed across the screen. The rush of the Marvel opening theme soon garnered much excitement, its stirring sequence accentuated by speedy strings and cymbal crashes. Throughout the night, the audience’s heightened enthusiasm and participation made for a particularly bright ambience.
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