The Ketu Candomblé Codes
“They didn’t know Brazilian Ketu, which is more detailed and specific about the nature of the drumming and dance concepts – because it was banned. It was banned in Brazil also, but the Brazil slave trade was too big to bury it. They couldn’t form a specific expression.” Andrew Scott Potter
ORIGINS
The Ketu Candomblé Codes
The word candomblé means ritual dancing or gather in honor of gods. Ketu is the name of the Ketu region of Benin. Candomblé Ketu developed in the early 19th century and gained great importance to Brazilian heritage in the 20th century.
Candomblé is the origin of some of the most powerful dances in Brazil brought over by slaves from Africa. These slaves held on to their contact with their native religion with the sounds played on the drums and dances that were associated with their religious rituals.
Candomblé is divided into different traditions or nations. They include Nagô, Jeje (Gege), Mina-Jeje, Angola or Congo-Angola, Ijexá, and Ketu (Queto).
There is little evidence of academia connecting how powerful these Ketu Codes are all over all of our popular rhythms - from jazz innovation evolution, blues, rock, funk, and even hip hop.
The Ketu Candomblé Rhythms have influenced the music and work of such well-known artists as: Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Jellyroll Morton, Duke Ellington, Art Tatum, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Chuck Brown, and others.
Black American Music Evolution
The Ketu Candomblé Codes