A group of seven people from Burundi performed in the Batimo Drum Ensemble, sending out a message in the “fight against AIDS in Africa.”

The event was sponsored by the International Student Association and Multicultural Affairs and was held in the Student Life Center on Wed., April 6.

They communicated to the audiences by playing the drums. When seven people hit drums altogether it is very loud. The performers brought the audience joy and happiness. It was obvious that everyone in the ensemble enjoyed performing.

One performer read a poem in English to show his love of Burundi. The leader sang the song “Take me home, country roads” by John Denver to express the emotions of sadness because of being away from home for a long period of time.

Burundi is located in central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The land area is 27,830 square kilometers, slightly smaller than the state of Maryland.

“It is very important to expand your knowledge in the cultures of different people,” said Marcus Harris, a senior Computer Science major from Mason, Tenn. ”This gives us a broader view on how another culture’s history affects the world today.”

“We all felt the sound of the drums and the spirit of Burundi with our entire bodies,” said Eric Clark, a Post Baccalaureate student from Martin, Tenn.