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Introducing the Djembe     
 
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The djembe is part of the membranophone group of drums. In its traditional form this drum is constructed of wood shaped like a large goblet that has animal skin stretched over it. One of West Africas favourite drums it creates a deep bass sound when played correctly due to its goblet shaped shell.

The drum’s history can be traced all the way back to the Mali Empire of the twelfth century and to the tribes of either the Mandinka or Susu (also known as Numu). As the Mandika tribe crossed Africa the djembe travelled with them , it was readily adopted and over time its usage became widespread. The people of these tribes believe that the drum contains three spirits, one of the person who makes the djembe, one from the tree from which the wood is taken, and one from the animal whose hide is used to complete the drum. Today, people prefer to use goatskin to cover the drum and they decorate it by carving designs into the wood and attaching braided rope to give each one a unique appearance and flair.

Surprisingly the word djembe is actually French in origin and not African as you might suspect. The French colonised parts of Africa where they studied the music of the people as well as their instruments. As they do not have a hard ‘j’ in their language they chose to use ‘dj’ and it is this spelling that has gained the greatest recognition. There are currently numerous accepted spellings of the drum including jembe, djimbe and yembe. It was in the 1950’s and 1960’s around Paris that the djembe grew in public awareness due to be it extensively used by the ballet ensemble Les Ballet Africains. From then on the drum has grown in popularity around the world, particularly amongst drummers who appreciate its unique sound.

In Africa the drum rhythm, known as the diansa, is played at celebrations such as baptisms and weddings and also to commemorate important events such as full moons and the changing of the seasons. Some have even suggested that African peoples have used the sound produced by the drum in order to send messages over long distances, making use of the different sounds to communicate different meanings like a type of musical code.

The people of Africa also use other instruments to accompany the djembe, typically bells and dundun drums. The Wolof tribe from Senegal uses the djembe as part of an elaborate dance performed by their women. While the instrument is played the women dance the ‘Sabar’, a provocative dance meant to attract and entice their men.

You can create a sound with the djembe using one of three basic techniques. The first technique is where you create a ‘bass’ note by hitting the middle of the drum with the palm of an open hand. A ‘tone’ is produced when you hit the rim of the drum with flat fingers and a ’slap’ is the same action but with your fingers relaxed.

Djembesare now made by specialist drum makers all over the world and are sought after by students, tourists, professional musicians and hobbyists alike. Musically it is hard to resist moving to the driving beats of a well-played djembe, and even novices to drumming enjoy the primal energy of handling a djembe.