By Tracee Cullum Davis, ASU student

In the summer of 1998, Clayton Shotwell, associate professor of music, was transformed into Boubacan Keita. The name Boubacan means explorer and Keita refers to the king who solidified the Mali Empire by bringing everyone together to form one community. And explorer is one word that accurately describes Dr. Shotwell, for he has travelled all over the world and is now using world music to bring students a unique understanding of the world and how we live in it.

Dr. Shotwell’s passion in ethnomusicology, the study of how music functions in all cultures, is reflected in his playing of hand-made drums. On one of his expeditions to the African country of Mali, Dr. Shotwell had hand-crafted drums made, which he now incorporates into his classes. He also takes the drums to local schools and teaches the children the art of African drumming. With these drums, he teaches American students a new way of communicating.

When Dr. Shotwell brings his drums to class, he gives little instruction. “For me, it’s not about teaching African culture, it’s about expressing yourself and letting yourself go—mind and body,” he says.

He has his students form a circle; he explains the three main rhythms or patterns; and then, he lets them play. He emphasizes that there is no wrong way to play these drums. He encourages students to relax and enjoy the moment. It is all about expressing oneself, moving the body and being in the moment.

In the past, he has used the drums for music therapy at Walton Rehabilitation as well as helped form a drumming community at Fort Gordon.

Dr. Shotwell’s teaching is shaped by his education and, more importantly, by his life experiences. “The problems in this world are problems of consciousness. You have to change the people before you can change the problem,” he says.

Dr. Shotwell received his bachelor’s degree in music from Hastings College and master and doctoral degrees from the University of Minnesota.

Name: Clayton M. Shotwell

Position: Associate Professor of Music and World Humanities

Time at ASU: 14 years

Family: wife, Cindy, is a retired nurse from Walton Rehabilitation; he has two sons as well as two dogs

Little known facts: An environmentalist, he is setting his home up to run on solar power. He says he is proud to be a product of the 60’s Berkeley, Calif., culture. And he starts most of his stories with “To make a short story long…”

Hobbies: He is developing his gardening skills and is passionate about growing as much of his own food as possible. He also enjoys making new things out of old materials.

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