Kaduna's Secret Spots: A Drummer's Low-Key Tour
so i landed in kaduna with a beat-up drum kit and no real plan. i'm a touring session drummer, which means i'm always hunting for weird little venues, back-alley jam spots, and places where the locals actually hang out. kaduna surprised me. it's not on every "hidden gem" list for a reason-people just don't talk about it-but that's exactly why it's worth digging into.
first thing i learned: rent here is stupid cheap. like, you can get a decent one-bedroom in the city center for around 40,000-60,000 naira a month. that's less than a night in some lagos hotels. safety? eh, it's complicated. most locals will tell you to avoid certain areas after dark, but the same could be said for any big city. i stuck to the well-lit, busy streets and never had an issue.
now, the music. if you're into live sound, you need to hit *The Roots Bar on Ali Akilu Road. it's not fancy, but the acoustics are surprisingly clean and the crowd is always up for a jam. i once sat in with a highlife band there and they didn't even blink when i pulled out my snare.
another spot: Kasuwan Magani Market. yeah, it's a market, but on weekends local musicians gather near the spice stalls and just play. no stage, no mic, just raw rhythm. bring earplugs if you're sensitive-those talking drums get LOUD.
for gear hunting, check out Gidan Makama Music Shop near the old city walls. they've got secondhand kits, repaired cymbals, and the owner, Musa, will haggle like it's an olympic sport. i scored a nearly-new hi-hat for 12,000 naira-that's less than a decent dinner in abuja.
pro-tip: if you're flying in, abuja is only a 2-hour drive away. perfect for a weekend gig swap or just escaping the kaduna heat.
weather here? hot. like, "i regret wearing black jeans" hot. but evenings cool off enough to sit outside with a beer and listen to the city breathe.
overheard gossip from a bartender at Roots: "the best drummer in town? not me, not you-it's this kid from kinkinau who plays with water jugs. he's insane." i never found him, but i'm still looking.
overheard gossip #2*: "don't trust the guy selling cymbals at the sunday market. half of them are made of recycled tin roofing." lesson learned the hard way.
if you're a drummer, producer, or just someone who loves finding sound in unexpected places, kaduna's got layers. you just have to listen.
Roots Bar on TripAdvisor
Kasuwan Magani Market Yelp
Gidan Makama Music Shop Reddit Thread
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