After watching the drummer at his local church, Sihle Maseko was inspired to try drumming using buckets, barrels and tools from his own backyard. The result was something no one expected.
The little drummer, his parents and millions of people from around the world realised that the 10 year old had a natural talent! His mother Bontle Setshedi, posted the first video on his own Facebook page which has been shared by thousands and seen by millions… almost 3 million to be exact!
Setshedi told Sunday Times last year that she was surprised and a little annoyed when she got home from work one afternoon to find that Sihle had assembled a flimsy drum kit using bricks, plastic buckets, coffee tins and metal drums.
But that all changed when she heard him play and realised that something bigger was at work.
“I was just so emotional. I realised that God had given him a gift,” she said. “He was just so good. I’m still emotional now when I see what people are saying about him on Facebook.”
The response to his first video was so incredible that his family knew they had to help him develop his talent into a skill and decided to buy him a proper drum kit.
His uncle, Itumeleng Setshedi, helped to buy him a basic drum kit for him to practice and develop his talents.
“I saw him using those tin drums and I realised that he had a lot of potential. I felt that I had to buy him new drums,” he said. Some R3500 later and Sihle had the bright red drum kit that is now his pride and joy.
“It was definitely worth it, not just because it is what Sihle wanted but also because he is so dedicated,” said his uncle.
Watch Sihle on his new drum kit below:
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