Shree Santan Dharma Sabha / Evening Drum Ritual

In Tanzania there is a rather large population of people of Indian descent (although, as they explain, it is 'dwindling'). They built much of the city's inner neighbourhoods, in particular Kisutu which before independence (1961) used to be called 'Uhindini' –the Indian part, in Kiswahili. This recording was taken at the temple Shree Santan Dharma Sabha, which is located on Kistutu streets. After talking with some of the congregation members, and the chairman of the temple, we were allowed to stay for the evening session of drum listening –without much explanation. In the patio of the temple, there was a mechanical drum machine which started playing a repeating pattern for over 20 minutes. The bell heard was activated by a man.