SUDBURY -- A new group is hoping to use its passion for music to deliver important messages to the Sudbury community.
The 'Afro Madness Drum Troupe' consists of 11 people, with two of those people being Jeff Stewart and his 5-year-old grandson, Reid. The two came up with the idea of a COVID drum chant as a way to stay connected.
"I started to think outside the box of what we could to do keep some kind of social connection and I thought it would be good to have a positive chant and I talked to Reid about him leading the chant and I sent the recording to each of my drummers and they videoed themselves and they sent me the video back and I put it all together," said Jeff Stewart, the community music facilitator of the Afro Madness Drum Troupe.
There are multiple messages that the group is trying to get across in their chant, such as the importance of washing hands and staying positive. But the biggest one is the importance of finding a hobby during these difficult times.
"Finding something new and different and explore that, if you have the time try doing that," said Jeff.
Reid Stewart, the chant leader for the group, said he has some ideas of his own.
"Keep washing your hands, read good books and watch good movies and go for good walks," said Reid.
Jeff says the instruments seen in the video are from various cultures.
"We have the native drum, we have the doumbek [sic] which is Egyptian, and then we have the congas and bongos from Cuba,” said Jeff. “The African djembe, and other stuff from Brazil.”
The band is currently putting together their next virtual video, which will be released within the next two weeks.