The media Launch of the ArtsGames on August 11, 2016 heralded the glorious return of what had been a most interesting convergence of the arts until about seven decades ago. This congregation of artists which was discontinued in 1948 makes a return.

So after seventy years of absence, the glamorous rhythms and shades of the cultures of the world will be returning at the ArtsGames where participants will compete for the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in five art forms which include Dance, Music, Literature, Visual Arts and Media Arts. The five art forms are further broken down into thirty federations to create a festival of creativity from across the cultural clusters of the world. This new epoch heralds a new vista in the celebration of a world united through the arts. Of these thirty, the Percussion Federation brings together different drumming styles to heighten the rhythms of life.

Percussion is interesting in many ways because of the varying sounds and effects and it has been used through the pre-historic times until this day for different reasons. Cultures across the world have designed or adapted drums to suit their needs. In Nigeria, for instance, the talking drum has been used variously for communication, for entertainment and for spiritual rituals. In Vietnam, The Bronze drums known as Dong Son predates recorded history and it has been used for a wide variety of purposes. The Steel Drums of Trinidad and Tobago have since become a national identity in that country and has been exported to all the continents of the world. Other percussive instruments that developed from drums have also lived through the ages to define cultural identities.

The International ArtsGames Percussion Federation serves to produce all the percussion contingents that will represent nations from all continents to participate at the ArtsGames. Details for the selection process for the six categories to be competed for will be announced soon.

The categories to be competed for includes:

1. Traditional rhythm
2. Voices and percussion
3. Melodic percussion
4. Drum kit solo
5. Drum line face-off
6. Innovative and creative rhythm

As the beat goes on, the sound and rhythm will continue to reverberate across the globe getting louder and more pulsating until the climax, when the various shades of cultures converge in the celebration of life. One cannot afford to miss the thrills of participating in the biggest art show in the world. Join in the celebrations.