The beauty of how African villages once communicated to each other through drum beats and rhythms will be displayed this weekend by the “Drummers of West Africa.”

Doudou N’Diaye Rose, one of Senegal’s most revered drum masters, will bring his ensemble to Stephens Auditorium Sunday.

Rose’s agent and close friend, Stephan Brunet, says Rose has been interested in drums since he was a young boy. Brunet spoke on behalf of Rose, who does not speak English.

“When he was a kid, his father didn’t want him to play drums,” Brunet says. “His father wanted him to get a standard education and was angry when Doudou started to play drums. He went to Senegal to learn how to play drums.”

Brunet, who has been associated with Rose’s group since 1985, says the tradition behind African drumming began as a way of sending messages from village to village. The messages often involved celebrations of events or warnings against danger.

“All of the rhythms mean something,” he says.

Brunet says each African country tends to have its own unique drumming style. Within those countries, each tribal group has its own variation of that style. For example, a stick is held in one hand and the drum with the other in Senegal.

Brunet says Rose has drawn his drumming style from the music of other countries, in addition to Senegal.

“Mr. Rose really liked the drummers of Burundi,” Brunet says. “The drumming style is quite different. They use a huge drum and two sticks.

“When Mr. Rose saw the group, he decided he wanted to work with them. Mr. Rose is very curious in his mind. When he has a chance to meet a group that he likes, chances are, he will end up doing something with them.”

Rose also loves to perform with other groups, Brunet says. Three years ago, Rose’s group toured with a bagpipe band, he says.

The group has performed worldwide, and Brunet says Australia and Russia are two of the only locations where the group hasn’t performed. The group last performed in Iowa three years ago.

Rose performs with a group ranging in size from 25 to 100 people. For the show in Ames, his performance group will consist of 35 people, comprising 20 women and 15 men.

“When they do the show, Doudou is in the middle of the stage directing,” Brunet says. “Each concept of the drums is quite different.”

Brunet says some of the traditions associated with Senegalese drumming involve dancing and singing.

“They sing during the show and dance a lot,” he says. “People tend to be more shy when you have some Senegalese people in the room dancing.”

Brunet says the show has a lot to offer, and the unique aspect will appeal to audiences.

“I would say it’s something really different,” he says. “It is a good way to see Senegal.

“When people have the opportunity to see Mr. Rose, they realize there is something going on. The audience will feel the pleasure of playing coming from the stage.”

Brunet says Rose has lead percussion groups for several years and, despite being older, he still performs with youthful energy.

“Mr. Rose is 74 — I would like to see other people play with that much energy when they are his age,” he says. “He dances around just as much as the rest of the group.”