Battle of Santiago drummer wants more women to play sacred drums

Magdelys Savigne's decision  to play the batá drum, a sacred instrument in Cuba usually played by men, made her stand out. 

Batá drums are considered sacred in the Santería religion, which is practiced throughout northern South America and the Caribbean. The drums are an important part of the religion and are used to commune with spirits. 

In the faith, women are discouraged from drumming. So when Savigne decided to pursue the instrument, she got a lot of hard looks.

Savigne is a percussionist for the Afro-Cuban rock band Battle of Santiago, which is based in Toronto. The  band was recently nominated for the 2018 Junos' World Music Album of the Year Award for their album La Migra.

Savigne's  love of  the instrument began when she was young. At age seven, she  persuaded a maestro to allow her to give it a try. 

He was impressed by her and decided to give her lessons.

"So that was a big step for me even at seven-years-old," says Savigne. "The fact that I said 'I'm not staying home with the kids. I'm going out and I'm pursuing my dreams. This is what I want to do. And it feels great doing it.'"

She was 11 when she played the drum in her hometown of Santiago for the first time. Savigne recalls  men gathered around her to try to intimidate her. While they eventually dispersed, she says she was shocked by their reaction. 

Women playing batá 

Over the last three decades, more women have begun to play the batá. Most notably, the Obini Bata — an all-woman orchestra that plays batá — has received international attention after years of marginalization within Cuba. 

Savigne says she plans to return to Cuba, where she still expects to face ire. But once she's back, she says she hopes to encourage more women and girls to give the drum a try. 

"If now it's getting better, the future will be way better and no one will see you like, 'Oh there's a girl playing drums,'" says Savigne."They'll see a person playing drums, talented or not. That's it."

Click LISTEN above to hear Savigne play the batá.