I’ve always been into music—listening, dancing, or playing it. From a young age, I was surrounded by music, especially at church. My mom sang, my dad played the trumpet, and my grandmother sang hymns. Naturally, I wanted to follow in their footsteps.
In Grade 5, I began learning the trumpet at church, but inconsistent lessons hindered my progress. My dad bought me a trumpet and encouraged me to join the music programme at Greenwood Primary in Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha). When I tried signing up for trumpet classes, they had no more instruments, so I opted for steelpans instead. Playing the steelpans was incredibly fun, and I excelled at it. We practiced during school breaks, and I sometimes joined my friend in the drum room, experimenting with rhythms. Watching Drumline that year sparked my interest in drumming.
Near the end of Grade 6, my dad’s job transfer forced me to leave the school, meaning I never got to join the senior band. At Durban Central Corps, I tried learning the trumpet but struggled with availability and commitments. I noticed the Corps had a drumkit and asked Isaac, the euphonium player, if I could play after services. That’s how I started drumming at church, though high school kept me from playing regularly.
A friend in high school had a drumkit in the school’s darkroom, and during breaks, we’d jam together. Other students soon noticed I could play, though nothing major came from it. My understanding of drumming as worship only deepened later when my family moved to Cape Town, where my parents served at Athlone Corps.
During my gap year in Cape Town, while working as a soccer coach, I became more involved in church, especially with the Praise and Worship team. This was when my drumming improved significantly. I learned to listen to the mood of songs, take advice from the team, and allow the Spirit to lead. Drumming became more than music—it became worship, prayer, and an unfiltered expression of faith. The more I practiced, the more I was entrusted to play, inspiring others to learn as well.
Though I never sought the spotlight, it found me. I became the designated drummer for the Northern KZN Divisional Band and later a judge for the Field Band Foundation in Johannesburg. I’m grateful to those who recognized my gift and nurtured it. Above all, I thank God for the opportunities, mentors, and the joy of worship through music.
For me, drumming is never just been about playing rhythms or keeping time—it’s about worship. It’s about allowing the Spirit to lead, and understanding that before I am a drummer, I am a worshipper. The best moments behind the drums aren’t the ones where everything sounds perfect but the ones where I lose myself in the presence of God, playing not for recognition but as an offering to Him. Worship isn’t about performance; it’s about connection. And if my drumming can help create a space where others can encounter God, then that’s the greatest rhythm I could ever play.