Tuesday 10 May 2011

The Second Generation - Henry Robert Antoine


Henry Robert Antoine aka Dawendo is one of Abojevi Zahwenu/Robert Antoine’s son. Henry was head drummer and was ordained in a special ceremony in 1926 to the position of huto or father of the drums. He was the fourth in line after ZZisu, Gangwede and Hodonu.  It takes many years of practice to become a good drummer and even more so to beat the head drum or Towonde. He was a carpenter and loved tending to his vegetable garden. And as you may have already read, he was passionate about cricket and Garry Sobers. Towards the end of his life he lost his eight sight. Henry died on April 20, 1966 at the age of 88 and was buried in the family’s cemetery. Like his wife, Camilla, he too has a grandchild named in his honour, Henry Lewis Antoine.

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