Expressionist Painting from Africa, "Divine Drummers"

Drummers communicate with a cadence of taut excitement during a durbar. The chieftain or king is seated beneath an umbrella. Celebrating a princely feast, the royal Ashanti court throws a festive durbar, inviting all to rejoice in the spirit of tradition. Durbars are ceremonial occasions marking significant events of a region's people, such as an annual festival, the monarch's anniversary or a royal occasion. At these gatherings the monarchs meet with their constituents, enveloped by much fanfare, drumming and dancing. The monarch sits at the head of these occasions, yet he or she represents every soul within the domain.