Principles of Offbeat Timing and Cross-Rhythm in Southern Eve Dance Drumming

African polyrhythmic drumming has long fascinated ethnomusicologists. In particular, the dance drumming of the southern Eyespeaking people of the Guinea Coast of West Africa has been the subject of several lengthy studies (Jones 1959; Pantaleoni 1972a)l and its performance has been taught in many schools in the United States.2 But although this music has been well studied, a coherent system of its basic rhythmic principles has yet to be developed. Indeed, some of its most fundamental concepts are still the subject of vigorous debate. This article presents a series of concepts about rhythm that help explain the complexities of offbeat timing and cross-rhythm in southern Eve dance drumming.3 My ideas have been gradually developed during many years of study of African music and dance performance4 While Eve musicians do not talk about their music in this manner, these concepts are, in my opinion, consonant with the feeling of southern Eve drumming.