The Djembe - Drum Africa The Djembe The Djembe The Djembe The djembe (pronounced JEM-bay) is one of the most versatile and widespread percussion instruments on the planet. Its huge popularity is down to the fact that it can create an unusually wide range of pitches, namely the bass (low), tone (medium) and slap (high). These sounds are created by striking different areas of the djembe skin with the hands. Its Origins The djembe drum is said to have been invented in the 12th Century by the Mandinke tribe in what is now Mali, in West Africa. It has been played by West Africans for generations forming an integral part of ritualistic life in Mali, Guinea, Senegal and other neighbouring West African countries. Its Design The djembe has a very unique and distinctive design, which is fundamental to its versatile sound. The “goblet-shaped” body of the drum is carved and hollowed out of a single piece of tree trunk. The Mandinka people traditionally used wood from Lenge trees, which held great spiritual importance for them while also lending the drum its resounding acoustic.

The large bowl-shaped chamber in the upper part of the body creates low resonance for the bass strokes (struck by the whole hand in the middle of the drum), while the narrow elongated lower section helps project the volume of all tones. The head of the drum is traditionally made from goat skin, providing the djembe with piercing high-pitched tone and slap sounds (struck by the hand near the edge of the drum) owing to the thinness of goat skin (compared to antelope or calf-skin). The shaved goat skin is lapped around a steel hoop and placed over the lip at the top of the drum. Another steel hoop wrapped with coiled-rope is placed on top of the skin-lapped hoop so that the tension of the skin can be adjusted by tightening or loosening the attached vertical ropes lining the outside of the bowl of the drum. Tuning In order to make a djembe sound good, the tuning of the skin needs to be fairly tight and, more importantly, even on all sides of the drum. If one side of the skin is significantly tighter than another then unwanted overtones will impair the crispness of the sound.

Tuning – rope is horizontally interwoven between the vertical ropes to increase tension in the head The tuning of the drum is achieved by using a double-hoop system in which a lower hoop, lapped with the goat skin head, is pulled down over the rim of the drum by an upper hoop, which is interlocked via a long vertically-winding rope with a smaller hoop just below the bowl of the drum. Once the vertical rope has been pulled tight all the way around the drum it is tied off, and can be continued to be used by weaving horizontally between the ropes to increase the tension further. The horizontal rope is weaved behind and in front of the vertical ropes (various methods can be employed) so as to twist them into an “S” shape and increase the tension of the skin until the desired pitch is reached. The skin will naturally descend in pitch over time, so drummers regularly increase the tension on the skin by continuing to weave the horizontal rope all the way around the bowl of the drum until either the skin is so stretched that it is no longer usable, or the skin rips. Sounds of the djembe There are three main sounds that can be played on a djembe: bass, tone and slap.

The bass sound (low-pitched) is achieved by striking the drum in the middle of the skin with a heavy hand. The tone (medium-pitched) is played with the hand on the edge of the skin, using the wrist as well as the arm to propel the hand towards the drum. The slap (high-pitched) is technically the hardest stroke to achieve. There are many types of slap, all of which are played near the edge. Ghanaians play their slap slightly further in than the tone as shown below. Djembe drummers from Guinea, Mali and other countries where the djembe is indigenous, slap slightly further out, with the fingers pointing as shown below. In both cases the fingers should be completely relaxed and thrown towards the head of the drum by the arm and wrist. The best way to achieve the slap is through trial and error, and as every person’s hands are different so every person will have a unique sound on the drum. Cultural context The djembe has been an integral part of spiritual and ritualistic life in West Africa for many generations.

It was traditionally only played by griots, well respected high-class court musicians, who used it for story-telling: passing on important historical, religious and cultural information to future generations. Griots were, and still are, respected as not just incredible musicians, but men of great knowledge, possessing centuries of wisdom passed down to them through their direct ancestors. The drum is inextricably linked with singing and dancing, and any aspiring djembefola (djembe player) must also learn the accompanying songs and dance moves to the rhythms they perform. Various dances have different symbolic meanings, and are performed at important events such as festivals calling for rain or a good harvest, or at ceremonies like births, weddings and funerals.

Djembe drummers Famous master-djembe players, called “djembefola”, include: Mamady Keita, from Guinea, who led “Le Ballet National Djoliba” from an early age; Famoudou Konate, also a Guinean master-drummer who led “Les Ballets Africains de la République de Guinée”; Adama Dramé, a Griot from Burkina Faso, who directs the “Ballet Foliba”; Abdoulaye Diakite, from Senegal, djembefola with “Ballet National du Senegal“; Soungalo Coulibaly, a Malian master-drummer who made his name in Côte d’Ivoire. Suggested Listening Albums that are worth listening for an introductory overview of West African djembe music include: Mamady Keita: Wassolon, Nankama Soungalo Coulibaly: L’Art du Djembe Suggested Documentaries The Djembe, A Charmful Musical Instrument Open Mic The Djembe, A Charmful Musical Instrument The Djembe is a rather easy-to-play-instrument.

Its origins are in Africa and its sound brings the beat of the African continent close to us. The djembe is a musical instrument that comes from Western Africa, the country of Mali. It is known to have the specific form of a goblet and is made from animal skins. It can be played with one's bare hands. And, naturally, is highly popular among youth all over the world these days. Perhaps the charm around the djembe instrument is due to its African origins, and its charge with spirituality and symbolism. It certainly isn't hard to play such an instrument, but still there are a few basic things that must be known before engaging on such a musical journey. The basic principle is to put the hands in the very right place, and to either strike the drum in a certain place, or to diffuse the energy of the hand. In order to produce a bass note, one should strike the djembe towards the center. In West Africa the djembe is one of the most popular instruments. Belonging to Africa, it has its mystic traits and symbolism.

Thus, it is considered to contain three types of energies: the energy of the tree, the energy of the animal of which is made the head of the drum, and the energy of the craftsman. But what exactly are djembe made of? The wooden part is considered to be properly made if it is carved from a single piece of wood. Traditional makers believe that pieces of wood stuck together no longer possess the spirit of the tree. Also, if properly constructed, djembes have a rather rough interior. As far as the animal skin is concerned, craftsmen can use goat, or camel, deer, zebra, antelope, veal (mature cows are never used.) Another restriction is referring to the gender of the animals - females are preferred to male animals. Apart from their artistic function, djembe were also used in the beginning for communication over long distances (thus djembe instruments were the ancestors of mobile phones, so to speak.) How can we learn to play the djembe? It generally implies finding a good teacher and having a few lessons in small groups. And how long does it take to become a "master"?

Well, it would take a couple of months to get to an acceptable level, and about two years to achieve a more advanced sound and precision. Theoretically, there are three ways of beating the djembe drums: on the edge, one can try open beats; around the center, a bit harder beats and, in the very center, bass hits. What learners must do is keep the balance between the three while covering the entire face surface of the djembe. The beauty of the instrument is that the player can create a multitude of tones. Despite the generally large interest in this traditional African instrument, very few stopped to think and try to find out how and why exactly do its inventers, i.e. African people, started to use it. What are the occasions in which they play the djembe? Do they give the act of playing it a special significance? The thing is very few djembe lovers have actually been to Africa, to see and study the details of the djembe traditions. Yet, the djembe undoubtedly has a long living tradition on the African continent.

The way of playing the djembe, as well as the dances and other practices associated with it, is surely to have a lot of meanings that are unknown to the Westerners. It may refer to the natural cycle of life, to the key moments in a man's life, all these being expressed by rituals and traditions involving the use of the djembe. This symbolism can also be found in the carvings made on the djembe's leg. There are several patterns, each having a special significance. For example, such a symbol carved into a djembe is called "The Leg of a Hen". It suggests the condition of a parent, with its two functions: to protect, and to correct: "The hen treads on her chicks, but she does not injure them." Other carvings may include waves, fish, animals, and so on, often having their very own stories. The best thing would be to get them from the very source, African people, who may know their true versions.

By Claudia Miclaus History of The Djembe - DrumConnection Boston's Drum Store History of The Djembe History Of The Djembe The Modern Djembe Built by DrumConnection The djembe is one of West Africa's best known instruments. This goblet-shaped drum is traditionally carved from a single piece of African hardwood and topped with an animal skin as a drumhead. In western understanding, the drum belongs to the membranophone class of instruments in the percussion family. Some say the name of the djembe came from the Bamana in Mali, who said "Anke dje, anke be" to call their people together, as the saying translates as "everyone gather together." "Dje" means gather and "be" means everyone, which gave the drum used in these calls to order its name. The Bamanakans' mythology tells of the original djembe, which was made of the hide of a giraffe-zebra hybrid called the gebraffe. There are at least a dozen stories of the history of the drum told by many master drummers. My master tells these stories and then steps back as even he, doesn't purport to know the real truth.

In history, the Mandinka of Manden became the Malinke of Mali. We often refer to them as the Mandé. The djembe drum is most likely about 400-800 years old, and was created during the Malian Empire by the Mandé people. It spanned the modern-day countries of Senegal, southern Mauritania, Mali, northern Burkina Faso, western Niger, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, the Ivory Coast and northern Ghana. The Mali Empire grew out of an area referred to by its contemporary inhabitants as Mande. Mande, named for its inhabitants the Mandinka (initially Manden’ka with “ka” meaning people of), comprised most of present-day northern Guinea and southern Mali. The empire was originally established as a federation of Mandinka tribes called the Manden Kurufa (literally Manden Federation), but it later became an empire ruling millions of people from nearly every ethnic group in West Africa. It is taught that the Blacksmiths made the first djembes, making each drum custom-fitted to the drummer who would play it. This makes sense as they would be the people to cut the tree.

The making of the drum was spiritual, and the blacksmith was obliged to make offerings to the spirits of the trees he cut down. With the lengue tree, a sacrifice would be made to ask for permission to cut the tree for a djembe. Once the blacksmith finished the djembe, it was delivered to the drummer who commissioned it, a member of the jeli caste. The jeli are musicians, who are responsible for the oral history of their people. This remains true to today. Stem of a beautifully carved djembe in Guinea Traditionally, only those born into the djembe family would be allowed (or interested) to play the djembe. Castes have last names that have survived to this day and if your last name (your family name) is one of those families born into the djembe, it is your instrument and possibly your job to play the drum for the village. The djeli caste still exists today, and is responsible for the traditional music. The djeli sing and perform during rituals, baptisms, weddings and sometimes funerals, and are trusted with the music of their ancestors. Africans say that the drum contains three spirits.

The belief is that the djembe drum contains the spirit of the tree from which it was made, the spirit of the animal whose skin is played, and the spirit of the carver or the one who cut the tree and the people who assemble the drum. We would add that possibly the most important is the spirit of the ancestors. I have seen the oldest djembe known today and it has the names of generations of djembe masters from many countries and villages. During a performance, the djembe may begin the ritual, followed by the singer and the other instruments. However, the music can also begin in a different fashion. The djembe player can change the beat of the drums in order to change the song, and the singer and instrumental players use the rhythm to recognize what they should be playing and adding to the whole. Meanwhile, the guests at the ceremony dance to the rhythm in a circle or incircled by a vast gathering of people. Solo dancers may leave the circle to dance for the djembe players or simply move up as allowed to dance for the djembe soloist of the moment. In the villages of Guinea and Mali, I have more often than not seen the traditional beginnings of ceremonies.

They often start with work being done and a song is sung to that work. If there are gourds or bells they may be added and then the bass drums (dunun) and then the djembe, in that order. That seems to me to be the natural way in the village. And, if you think about it, westerners often use a 'vocal first' call to begin a song or maybe a prayer. Hundreds of years later, the djembe gained a new following after West African countries gained independence. Highlighting the old culture of these newly sovereign states, djembe was used in national ballets, and drew emphasis to the djembe as a premier musical instrument and solo voice, rather than as an accompaniment to song and dance. Some modern djembe troupes only focus on the djembe and dunun music, but often do not include the dance. The song is often lost. To hear the music of the song, the dance and the drumming along with the villagers clapping and moving in a circle is just amazing. And you may need to make that trek to Africa to experience it in an actual village setting.

A djembe is normally 23-25" in height but can be smaller in many villages in Africa. We like to say the perfect height of a djembe is 24 1/2". Children often play djembe drums that are only 12-15" tall and they strap them on and play in a standing position as they copy their adult teachers. Many children in Africa actually start learning to play the drum on coffee cans on the side of the road. In the western world, children often start off in the kitchen with pots and pans. This is interesting to me as the djembe in Africa and in America comes from the kitchens of Africa. Most percussion instruments come from those outdoor African kitchens. Wood and metal make up the kitchen utensils and so it is with the djembe and dunun (the bass drum of the dununba). Even as recently as the 1950s, the djembe was not known beyond African music aficionados and those who grew up with the instrument. Fodeba Keita, of Siguiri, Guinea, brought a tour of Les Ballets Africains around the world.

European countries found the djembe before North America and it became more popular there. Now, Japan has risen to a country that has had a recent upswing in interest in djembe and traditional dance. And we can add China to that ever-growing list! I have been in Guinea when the Japanese elders were sent to find out what was the djembe all about and the dance and the culture of djembe. Was it tied to evil spirits? So I sat and watched and listened as the grandmaster and bibliothèque of the djembe, Famoudou Konaté, attempted to allay all fears. It was fascinating to me, that a country would send ambassadors and information gatherers before allowing their country to experience djembe and Guinean dance. In today's musical world, the djembe is making its way into the global consciousness. More people than ever listen to world music, popularized greatly by the rapid spread of West African ballets and orchestras especially during the mid 1980s. While it is hard to find a real djembe worth playing, built with the spirit of the wood, the skin and the maker it is worth the years necessary to invest in finding such a drum.

Very often, current djembe-style drums are not being made traditionally. Building up the djembe at our shop Some argue that it is better to have a djembe style drum than to not have a drum at all. I personally feel (due to experience) that even though those drums may be more accessible, they do not usually find their way into the hands of good drummers. To play djembe means to stay true to the history of the djembe; That includes the traditions of magic, knowledge and an open heart. If one of those is absent, the music will not sound correct to village-people of the seeding countries of the djembe. As of today, many traditional rhythms and songs have been lost to the past and the spirits that once were. Many current djembe teachers and historians have made it their purpose to make sure the rhythms we currently know and are learning, not be forgotten. Famoudou Konaté, Mamady Keita, Fadouba Oularé (passed in 2009), Mansa Cameo and their sons and descendants are continuing to keep the music alive. We owe it to the spirits of the past to learn their music.

If we just jam (play stuff) on the djembe, we will surely lower it's value as an instrument and one day, like a lost and forgotten child, it will be forgotten and die. When you play the djembe, it needs to speak in the music. If it doesn't speak, it is like you are saying nonsense with your voice. When you learn how to make the drum talk the language of the people who even today play and sing with the djembe, it takes on a life of its own. The djembe can then share in the energy that comes from without and within. And try to leave western accents behind and learn some Sousou, Malinké and Pular words and phrases so you can hear African sounding djembe phrases and djembe tone. The djembe player is then not 'just' a drummer but a vessel through which the spirit of the djembe comes through. I sometimes say that the sound of the djembe is in the past, present and the future; That it is not really in us yet until the moment it quickly comes into consciousness thru the hands and into the world. It is all at once!

The drummer really doesn't own the sound and is certainly not the only one responsible for it. It comes from years of study with masters guiding your hands, fingers, arms, spine - your thinking and your spirit. That is the master's job. And it is not easy. When you align yourself with a master, you will stay with him for a long time and it is a bond that can touch you and should touch you at your innermost places. If you have gone through this, you know. If you haven't I highly suggest this road BUT it is not easy and you may give up many other things in life to come to the knowledge and ability to make the djembe talk and sing. More djembe are built in Ghana, Bali and Thailand these days. The djembe has no history there. Some historians say that the djembe never really lived in those countries. Whether they were not born of those countries or not, they are able to export many more drums than the total of all the other djembe-seeding countries combined due to their industrial abilities and more westernized society.

We feel strongly that for a djembe to be a djembe it should come from the seeding countries of origin: Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast. These five countries have the trees the djembe is made from and they sound like a djembe. No drum made in the Western World will have that sound or that spirit. You will hear and feel the difference, we promise you. If your heart and ears are open. Please support African artisans and buy traditional djembe drums where much of the money will go back to pay the carvers. Thank you. And may the spirits that pass through the djembe speak to the spirt in you to help you on your way in life, love and happiness. Contents by Alan Tauber as learned over 35 years of studying the Mande music, drumming, dance, songs and being a visiting member of the Guinean culture. If you use this info, and wish to state its source, it is through Alan Tauber from his many masters of the Mandeng Music over a 35 year period. There is much more to know and learn. Just because it is written doesn't make it so.

Just because someone says it, doesn't make it real. Many people contact me and ask where did you get this? So, when you have been deeply involved in this music and culture for as long as I have, you make strong and loving connections with those people. If you care, you open your ears, and you listen to every word and think about the implications and history. I tend to record a lot and then listen to the recordings. I don't ask a lot of questions as I feel it is not my place. I just listen on a 'need to know' basis. My teachers directly in my history: Nuru Dafina, Ibrahima Camara (passed), Abdoulaye Sylla (passed), Paulo Mattioli (passed), Mamady Keita, Mamady 'Wadaba' Kourouma, Mamady Kourouma, Sayon Camara, Nansady Keita, Bolokada Conde, Monette Marino, and the grandmaster himself, Famoudou Konaté. Thanks to Kim Atkinson, CA for his support of this work and his wish for the source to be credited.

Djembe Back Djembe The djembe is a single-headed open goblet drum. It came originally from Mali and Guinea and is said to be of Maninka/Susu origin. The homeland of the Maninka is called Mande and lies roughly between Kankan (Guinea) and Bamako (Mali). The djembe is now found all over West Africa. Initially the djembe was a musical instrument of a griot caste who played it at cultural events during traditional dances and historical songs and so on. The djembe is named after the material of which the instrument is made. The djembe used to be made from a type of wood from the djem tree, a high-density type of wood found in Mali. Goat (be) skin is used for the membrane, hence the name djembe. There are three different types of djembe drum: 1) in which the base ends in a swallow's tail and the drum shell is round and vertical, 2) in which the base ends in a swallow's tail and the drum shell is funnel-shaped with a large diameter, and 3) in which the base is cylindrical and fairly narrow. The djembe drum comes in different sizes and shapes.

Usually it is around 70 to 100 cm high with a diameter of 30 cm at the top. Traditionally the djembe is played with both hands as the drummer stands with the drum held between his legs. It is hung over the shoulder with a strap. In some cases the drummer sits on a stool behind the drum or the drum is placed horizontally on the ground and the drummer sits on the drum. Some instruments have a metal plate attached to it with small rings that vibrate when the drum is struck, which changes the timbre of the djembe as a result. Different sounds are produced depending on the way the membrane is struck. The djembe played with both hands has three basic sounds: the fundamental 'pe': the drum is struck on the side of the membrane with the fingers held tight together; the 'pa' beat: the drum is struck on the edge of the membrane. This strike is much lighter than with the fundamental. The membrane is struck with a hollow palm; the bass note 'pou: the drum is struck at the centre of the membrane with a flat palm to maximize the contact with the membrane. This produces a deep sound.

The djembe is played as a solo instrument and in combination with other drums such as the djun djun . The djembe gained a degree of popularity outside Africa around the 1950s following performances by the national troupe 'Les Ballets Africains' from Guinea, led by Fodeba Keita. Since 1985, the djembe enjoys international interest and has probably become the most popular African drum ever. © RMCA/Dominik PHYFFEROEN Djembe Drums (African) for Sale by X8 Drums Djembe Drums Shop our huge selection of top quality djembe drums at discount prices. The traditional djembe is a goblet shaped hand drum with a goatskin playing surface affixed with rope runners. Originating in West Africa, this drum was used as a gathering drum and today is popular worldwide for people of all ages. The brands featured for this drum range from Ghana Imports to X8 Drums. The djembe sound has been featured in some of the most popular artists’ songs. Some of these include the vibrant sounds of Celia Cruz’s songs and other Caribbean artists.

The djembe can be seen as a vital instrument in many parts of the world and have certainly transcended borders. As it was commonly used in gatherings, this instrument is also very loud and versatile. Solos won’t be an issue with this beauty. Some of the materials commonly associated with a djembe is it’s shell, it’s skin, and rope. The selection at X8 Drums includes some with carved wood shells from a number of different woods. Because of the varying material, a variety of genre sounds are capable of being produced. Some of these sounds include Latin jazz and rhythmic drumming. Not sure where to start? Give us 5 minutes and we'll walk you through our entire selection to find the best drum for your needs. Call toll-free 1-800-771-9645. The fact that we only specialize in hand drums means you get a fantastic selection, great prices and expert advice! Check out the Djembe Buying Guide for more djembe buying tips and suggestions. X8 Drums 103 Uhland Rd.

San Marcos, TX 78666 Djembe African Drums, Bags, Stands & Hand Drums - X8 Drums X8 Drums All prices are in All prices are in USD = USA Orders Over $99 Get Free Shipping!* Real Drummers Answer The Phone! 1.800.771.9645 Shop Drums & Cymbals! Djembe and World Percussion Shop by X8 Drums X8 Drums leads the drum industry in Djembe, Djembe Lessons and accessories. Because we are drum lovers ourselves, we want to provide customer service and knowledge for you. Our instruments are used by beginners and professionals alike. The world percussion selection gives you the reign and power to choose your style. Rope Tuned Djembes The traditional djembe is a goblet shaped hand drum with an authentic goat skin playing surface affixed with rope runners. African djembe drums are hand crafted from a solid piece of hardwood with inner carvings that produce a wide range of tones. Originating in West Africa, the djembe was used as a gathering drum and today is popular worldwide for people of all ages.

Any djembe you purchase from X8 Drums is covered by a 30-day Satisfaction Guarantee - if you don't love the craftsmanship or sound of your drum, send it back within 30 days of purchase and receive a full refund of your purchase price (excluding shipping). Key-Tuned Djembes Key-Tuned, or Mechanically-tuned, djembes tend to have a more modern feel than the African style rope djembes, and are tuned using a wrench to tighten the bolts around the djembe head. The shells of the key-tuned djembes are also sometimes made of synthetic materials such as Acousticon, which replicate the strength and timbre of a traditional hardwood djembe drum surprisingly well. Not sure where to start? We're happy to walk you through our entire selection to find the best djembe for your needs. Call toll-free 1-800-771-9645. The fact that we only specialize in hand drums means you get a fantastic selection, great prices and expert advice!

A Variety of Drum Brands for the Percussionist Because our mission is to provide our customers with a drool worthy experience of shopping for your perfect world percussion instrument, we have committed ourselves to providing high quality and plenty of variety in our drums. Our brands include Pearl, Remo, Meinl, Sela, Toca, Latin Percussion and many more. Take a look around the shop! African Instruments African instruments jeg har bes�gt. African Musical Instruments Denne side har jeg "snuppet" fra en sp�ndende web-side , hvor de s�lger afrikanske instrumenter. Da jeg selv holder meget af at lave mine egne instrumenter, h�ber jeg at denne side kan inspirere dig, s�vel som den har inspireret mig! Det er nu adskillige �r siden jeg fandt denne sp�ndende side, uden faktisk at overveje hvor den l� fysisk.

Nu vil tilf�ldet s� at jeg p� rundrejse i Californien marts 2005, tilf�ldigt ser en sp�ndende musikbutik, og udforsker den lige indtil jeg blev smidt ud ved lukketid... Og f�rst da jeg kom hjem kunne jeg p� min k�bs-kvittering se at det faktsik var i "Lark in the morning"'s st�rste butik, downtown San Francisco. Og det ER en flot og sp�ndende butik :-) (B�de p� nettet og i virkeligheden) Museum Udu The Udu is a percussion instrument whose name is derived from the African tribal language meaning pottery. It is based on a centuries-old clay drum with tribal symbols, then fired, and painted with natural earth pigments. You can create beautiful sounds and vibrations that are both pure and spiritual. UDU019 $69.00 (SEE MORE UDU'S BELOW!) Noisy Children The bean of the "Flame Of The Forest" tree from Ghana.

About 16" long, the seeds inside the bean rattle making a wonderful percussion instrument. Great sound for all types of music PER222 $4.00 Kpoko Kpoko (sound) Double-ended wood bells come from the Ebo tribe of south-central Nigeria. The rattles produce a very unique wood rattling sound. Lightweight, natural wood with a woodsy-clangy sound. Small 8" x 3 1/2" x 1 1/2", fits a small hand comfortably PER304 $15.00 Medium 12" x 6 1/2" x 2 1/2", fits hand comfortably, fairly lightweight, light-colored wood, deeper woodsy-clangy sound, carved with human faces and animal images PER305 $32.00 Large 14" x 6 1/2" x 2 1/2", fits hand comfortably, fairly lightweight, light-colored wood, deep woodsy-clangy sound, carved with human faces and animal images PER306 $40.00 Zulu Hide Drum Great sounding hand drums covered in kudu hide.

5 Liter PER171 $38.00 Small handwoven rattle PER029 $6.50 Djembe Necklace Handcarved wood body ELE017 $10.00 Tanzania Whistle African 2 tone wooden whistle WHS014 $6.00 African Thumb Piano The one-of-a-kind ethereal sound of the kalimba has become the musical symbol of Africa. These easy to play Thumb Pianos are made of Kiaat hardwood, with a resonating chamber and spring steel notes. They are tunable. Large Model, great sound PER170 $29.00 Bendrey Gourd Drum These wonderful gourd drums from Burkina Faso have goat skin heads. About 14"-16" in diameter. Great sound. Limited supply! PER178 $65.00 Rhythm Gourd (sound) Cowrie shells make the incredible percussive sound of this African rhythm instrument. From 1/2 a large gourd, painted and carved in striking African designs. Shake it, play it like a hand drum, the Rhythm Gourd makes an amazing variety of sounds!

PER161 $40.00 North African Story Tellers Drum (sound) Traditional story tellers drum made in Morocco. Skin on both sides. The most wonderful drums we have come across in years! Beautiful traditional painting on both skin heads. Small DRU038 $40.00 18 string African harp. 45" tall. Traditional friction tuning. Skin head. HAR088 $250.00 Mini Ashikos Wonderful small ashiko drums that you can take anywhere! Great for kids also. Solid wood staved body with natural skin heads for traditional sound. 8" diameter.

Non-Tunable 8" diameter x 12" high DRU233 $50.00 8" diameter x 16" high DRU234 $55.00 8" diameter x 20" high DRU235 $60.00 8" diameter x 24" high DRU236 $70.00 Tunable8" diameter x 12" high DRU237 $55.00 8" diameter x 16" high DRU238 $65.00 8" diameter x 20" high DRU239 $70.00 8" diameter x 24" high DRU240 $80.00 Rosewood Ashikos Good sounding ashiko drums with traditional rope tensioning made of rosewood with skin head. These drums sound and look great and are at bargain prices!

9" x 20" DRU035 $145.00 14" x 27" DRU036 $300.00 14" x40" Standing Ashiko, thundering sound. DRU037 $385.00 Tanzania Whistle African Sistrum (sound) Great for rituals or a fun rhythm instrument, wonderful when using two at a time. Still used as magical ceremonial rattles. Made in Kenya. African Single Sistrum with jingles PER163 $12.00 African Double Sistrum with jingles PER164 $15.00 African Gourd Sistrum with jingles PER165 $20.00 Nutshell Shakers (sound) Shakers. made of nut shells, quite loud with a sharp sound. Large size, nicely made PER150 $20.00 Zulu Cocoon Rattles Amazing dance rattles of the Zulu peoples of South Africa. Three rows of cocoons sewn onto calfskin bands produce a sound like no other!

Traditionally worn around the ankles or calves while dancing, you can also shake them with your hand.Price per pair PER166 $35.00 African Drums Djembes! The Djembe drum is undoubtedly one of the most powerful drums in existence. It has been called "The Healing Drum", and dates back to the 12th C. great Mali Empire of West Africa, drum of the Mandingo people. A sacred drum, it was utilized in ceremonies such as healing, ancestral worship, rites of passage, warrior rituals, communication and storytelling. It has an incredible tonal range, from body felt base to thunderclap slap tone, and a dynamic range from whisper soft to a lions roar, setting it apart from other drums.Basic Models, made in Africa.Small, approx. 9" x 16" DRU222 $150.00 Large, approx. 12" x 25-1/2" DRU221 $275.00 Best Model, made in the US. These drums are easy to tune up, and stay in tune the longest of all available djembes.

They are built with the traditional tuning system ("Mali Weave") using the finest high strength, low stretch rope, along with custom made solid steel hoops. Drums skins are all hand selected, imported "Yala" (goat skin), and come to you tuned to perfection complete with transport handle and heavy duty "stand up" strap. Selected woods as available. Ultra light weight.12" DRU138 $705.00 15" DRU139 $785.00 Talking Drum (Adondo) (sound) Drums have many uses in African society. Drums are used through the life span of the African. During birth, initiation and death the sound of the drum is present. They are made from various objects including calabash, gourds, wood, bamboo etc. "Talking Drums" are widely used in Ghana especially by the Ashantis. They send messages of happiness, sorrow, war etc. to other tribes through the beating of the drum. They are called "Talking Drums" because they can produce a wide range of pitches including high female sounds and low male sounds by squeezing the drum. There is a language that is spoken with these magical sounding drums.

Wood with skin heads and leather thongs about 19" tall TAD001 $85.00 Medium Wood approx. 13" tall TAD001A $65.00 Small Wood 11" tall TAD009 $45.00 High quality wood 7 1/2"x20" TAD012 $329.00 High quality wood 6"x13" TAD008 $257.00 High quality wood 5"x11" TAD010 $210.00 Hausa Kalangou Professional Talking Drum from Hausa, Africa, made in the traditional manner TAD013 $165.00 Engraved Metal Talking Drums These wonderful unique talking drums have rope tension and either a nickel or brass shell with engraving.

Beautiful and great sound.Hourglass shape 10"x13" TAD002 $100.00 Small Traditional talking drum shape, 7"x10", with stick TAD003 $100.00 Medium Traditional talking drum shape, 8"x15", with stick TAD004 $125.00 Ewe Barrel Drums Drums of the Ewe speaking people, made of staved poplar. Skin is stretched across the mouth of the drum and pulled taut by a durable rope and peg tuning system. Ewe barrel drums are constructed in various sizes which articulate the function and character of each drum in the ensemble. The drums are played upright, tilted or suspended in a stand. Played with sticks or hands, they produce a variety of distinct projecting tones. Made in the US by Jag, in the traditional manner. Sogo-Kidi-Kagan These are the most common Ewe barrel drums and are usually played together in an ensemble. The Sogo can double as a lead or support drum, while the Kidi and Kagan are strictly used as support drums.

The Sogo is played with hands or sticks while both Kidi and Kagan are high pitched and played with sticks.Sogo 10" x 25" DRU126 $427.00 (Special Order) Kidi 8-1/2" x 21" DRU127 $326.00 (Special Order) Kagan 6-1/2" x 21" (Special Order) DRU128 $202.00 (Special Order) Atsimevu Lead or master drum standing about 5 feet tall and has a head diameter of 10"x50" DRU129 $594.00 (Special Order) Stand DRU129S $113.00 (Special Order) Kloboto-Totodzi These stout barrel drums are low in pitch and function as support drums.

They are played with sticks and have a muffled sound.Kloboto 16" x 10-1/2" DRU131 $234.00 (Special Order) Totodzi 15" x 11" DRU132 $234.00 (Special Order) Boba Boba is the lowest and richest sounding Ewe drum. It also functions as a lead drum and it can be played with sticks or hands.With bottom, about 35" x 16" DRU134 $575.00 (Special Order) Stand DRU133S $113.00 (Special Order) Gome The Gome is traced back to the Jamaican Maroons or the Ashanti slaves from West Africa in the 1790's. Right around that time, the Europeans banned the use of traditional carved drums in the Carribean. Hand-carved drums were once used as wartime signals. The Europeans were worried that the slaves would use the signals to revolt. Most of the slaves were carpenters and blacksmiths, so they designed a drum in disguise of a chair.

It was said to have feet and a back so when the master left, the chair was turned forward and used as a drum. In the 1820's many slaves were sent back to Africa to Freetown Sierra Leone where Gome music became popular by 1840 and spread all over West and Central Africa. Gome is played with the hands and the heels of the feet pressing on the head to change the pitch. It is often used in modern Highlife in place of a bass player. A unique tuning system that consists of T-screws pressing against an internal frame changes the tension of the skin. 18"x15" by Jag DRU163 $539.00 (Special Order) Tamalins Tamalins are popular square frame drum among the Ashanti and Ga people of Ghana and are used in modern Highlife as well as traditional Adowa and Sikyi. They are held with one hand in the middle of the cross frame and struck with the other hand.

A wedge tuning system and goatskin head produce a sweet sonorous tone by Jag.17" x 14" DRU114 $193.00 19" x 15" DRU115 $223.00 24" x 19" DRU116 $254.00 Gungon Traditional Gungon of the Dagombas of Northern Ghana. This sonorous tom tom, recreated in the authentic style, features quality goatskin heads hand roped to a lightweight 1/2" thick wooden shell. It is hung from one shoulder and played with a handcrafted curved stick. A snare stretched across each head characterizes the traditional Dagbani sound. An intricate rope tension tuning system keeps the drum light weight without sacrificing strength and durability. In addition the Gungon is made of wood which is staved and covered with richly colored African cloth or velvet. Shaved natural goatskin heads with snare. Curved stick and shoulder strap included. This amazing drum has deep thundering sound.

16"x15" DRU135 $408.00 (Special Order) Junjun Traditionally played with Djembes and Ashiko drums featuring all welded metal hoops, natural wood or African cloth covering, traditional rope tension with natural shaved goatskin heads and made of cherry wood. 16"x18" DRU230 $490.00 (Special Order) UDU Drums The beautiful Udu Drum originates from Nigeria. Surprisingly, it began not as a percussion instrument, but as a common clay pot made for carrying water. When a potter from the ancient Ibo tribe inadvertently made an opening in the side of one of his vase-shaped water vessels, he discovered the pot's earthy, musical sound. Because some believed its haunting tone to be the "voice of the ancestors," the simple side-hole drum - sculpted entirely from earth, water, fire, and air - came to be an important part of religious ceremonies in southern and central Nigeria.

Though the drum had different names depending on the region in which it was used, "udu" was the Ibo name, meaning both "pottery" and "peace" in the tribal language.Today's Udu Drum has become accessible to the world's percussionists through the efforts of one man - artist, industrial designer, and master ceramicist, Frank Giorgini. Some twenty years ago, Giorgini began painstakingly hand crafting the clay drums by traditional Nigerian pottery techniques and engineering them to acoustic perfection. He created a versatile musical instrument that appealed to percussionists and was so beautifully designed it was added to the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. As the demand for his handmade drums grew, the designer was moved to devise a system for producing them in greater quantities, more quickly. Through a slipcasting process, he produced his Claytone Series - Udu's with the same quality tone of the hand-sculpted originals, but more easily made. Now, LP Music Group continues that process, producing Udu drums that have "the voice of the ancestors." Claytone Udu Drums Reminiscent of a pregnant belly, these tear drop shaped drums provide soothing sounds and easy playability. Includes straw ring.

Claytone #1: A traditionally shaped UDU drum (water vessel shaped, one hole at the top and one in the side) in the "soprano" range UDU002 $130.00 Claytone #2: Same as Claytone #1, alto UDU003 $140.00 Claytone #3: Same as Claytone #1, tenor UDU004 $160.00 Claytone #4: as Claytone #1, bass UDU005 $180.00 Udongo:Udongo II Udu Drum creates rich, very extreme textures between chambers. Ranging from mellow, round dry sounds to bright, sharp angular, wet sounds. With practice a unique "whining" sound can be created. Includes straw rings. UDU006 $250.00 Mbwata:Mbwata Udu Drum creates rich and extreme textures between chambers. The lower rounded chamber produces mellow, round, dry bass tones, while the smaller, flat chamber creates bright, sharp, wet tones. Includes straw ring.

UDU007 $250.00 Hadgini Udu Drum Hadgini Udu Drum was developed by Frank Giorgini and percussionist Jamey Haddad. A dual chambered drum with an extended "V" shaped air channel between the chambers. The rounded low chamber has a mellow, alto range while the triangular chamber has more bright and transparent sounds - almost like a clay tabla. Each chamber has different textures to add to the rubbing sounds that are possible. UDU018 $285.00 Tambuta Udu Drum Tambuta Udu Drum The design of the Udu Drum Tambuta allows for mounting on a snare stand for easy playability. It creates very dry tones with short to medium decay. The main body produces tight, quick, "pops" while the extending bell offers tonal compliments and a way to control air flow. Nice sound! UDU017 $170.00 Utar Udu Drum Utar Udu Drum Sounds created by the Utar can be described as "very rich and extreme". The main body creates low bass tones with a medium to long natural decay.

The bell chamber creates very bright, wet sounds, while the shell can create "cowbell" type sounds. Includes straw ring. UDU016 $200.00 "How To" of UDU Instructional book and cassette on how to play the UDU drum UDU009 $30.00 African Percussion African Reed Shaker Great rhythm instrument from Africa. Rattle with reed framework and pebbles inside for a full rainstick-like sound PER013 $24.00 Zambia Rattles Jungle Rattles (sound) Wonderful rattles from Kenya. A metal body with natural skin heads and lacing and a wooden handle. Shake these for a great and wild sound.Single PER142 $14.00 Double PER143 $16.00 Round Rattles Amazing rattles from Kenya. A circular wooden body with metal jingles strung on wire make an incredible sound. Great for ancient rituals or what have you PER144 $16.00 Gourd Rattles Made from a gourd with a natural wooden handle these African rattles are a great percussion instrument for many purposes.

Decorate them and make ceremonial rattles or enjoy them as they are PER145 $10.00 African Sisal Rattles Small handwoven rattle shaped like a gourd. PER021 $6.00 African Basket Rattles Small handwoven rattle from Mali. Great small rhythm instruments. PER016 $7.50 Whirling Drums Hold these drums (tik-tak drums) between both of your palms and rub back and forth making the drums whirl. They make a great sound that changes with your rhythm and speed. Made with a handlaced skin head and a handcarved wooden stick.Small PER007 $10.00 Medium PER008 $12.00 Large PER009 $14.00 Double small, heads at one end PER023 $12.00 Double medium, heads at both ends PER022 $15.00 Shekeres Shekeres are gourds covered with a woven, beaded webbing. These are authentic instruments made in Africa; the webbing is made of sturdy nylon.Seed-Bead Shekere........

PER018 $40.00 Ceramic-Bead Shekere........ PER019 $40.00 Seashell Shekere ........ PER019A $40.00 Mini Shekere with seed beads PER018A $25.00 Gankoqui Double Bells These double bells are handforged by the best Ewe blacksmiths and are used for all of their traditional music. The Gankoqui is created from iron that is heated to blistering temperature, hammered and shaped to the proper size and set back in the fire for tempering. Its clear and cutting tone demonstrates why it has been the center of so much traditional African music.Medium, about 10" high PER116 $35.00 Toke-Dodompo Hand-forged from iron, these bells produce clear, cutting, high-pitched tones. The Toke is held in the palm and played with a beater.

The Dodompo is placed on the middle finger and struck with an iron ring worn around the thumb (African iron castanet).Toke PER118 $30.00 Dodompo PER119 $15.00 hr size=5> African Harps Interesting small harps from Kenya. Either 3-string, 1 neck or 6-string, 2 neck models. They are tunable and sound sweetly.3 string, 1 neck HAR076<$25.00 6 string, 2 neck HAR077 $30.00 You will find more African instruments in our Tuned Percussion section including kalimbas, mbiras and balafons.

Question: The traditional African instrument called a djembe is a small?
Answer: Drum