African D'jembe Drums
Djembe Drums
The origin of the name djembe comes from "Anke dje, anke be," - a Bamana language phrase which translates to "everyone gather together in peace".
A general overview of the djembe drum
The djembe drum is a skin-covered goblet drum played with bare hands. It is rope-tuned and is originally from West Africa.The Bamana people are a West African ethnic group that are primarily located in southern Mali (once part of the Greater-Mande Mali Empire), however, they also live in Ghana, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Senegal. The Bamana Language, also known as Bambara, is a language spoken by more than 15 million people in West Africa, and is the national language of Mali. Bambara is also spoken in Côte-d'Ivoire, Gambia, Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Guinea. However, Bambara is not widely spoken within Ghana.
The invention of the djembe drum
The djembe drum is believed to have been invented by the Mandinka people of West Africa in the 12th or 13th century by the Numu (a caste of blacksmiths among the Mandinka people). They would play the djembe while smelting iron ore. The djembe, along with its culture, spread into other parts of West Africa as the Numu migrated throughout West Africa.How the djembe is played
The djembe is played by striking the head in three different ways to produce different sounds:
* Bass a lowest-pitched sound that is produced by striking the center of the drum with a flat palm and a heavy hand.
* Tone is a medium-pitched sound that is produced by striking the edge of the drum's head with a flat hand while using the whole arm to propel the hand towards the drum.
* Slap The slap is the highest-pitched sound. It is produced by striking the edge drum's head with the top of the palm while allowing the fingers to rebound off the drum.When playing the djembe:
Sit with your legs wrapped around the drum and tilt it slightly forward. Find a comfortable position for your fingers. Then practice the basic patterns that combine the three main tones.Popularity and Uses of the djembe
The djembe is still made in Mali today and has become a staple of West African life. It is a large part of the daily life in Guinea, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. The djembe is used in ceremonies such as: celebrations like marriages, births, and deaths. It is used to mark the cycles of the moon and seasons such as the harvests. The djembe is also used by Healers to help calm patients.
The djembe has a powerful Spiritual significance which is used, in traditional African ceremonies, to create a sense of unity and community. The rhythmic beats provide therapeutic qualities that helps to reduce stress and promote relaxation.
The Inspiration for the djembe drum:
The blacksmiths received their inspiration for the djembe drum from the repetitive sound pattern of the women pounding grain in a mortar. The first phase of what came to be the djembe was a transformed mortar into a drum by piercing a hole in the bottom and covering it with animal skin. Later came the Custom-made djembe. They were made by the blacksmiths to fit the drummer who would play it, and the blacksmiths would make offerings to the spirits of the trees which they cut down to make the drums.From my own personal experiences, each drum has a different spirit. So, listen to several different drums to find the one that speaks to your spirit!
Recap and Conclusion
* The name "djembe" is derived from a phrase of the Bamana people: "Anke dje, anke be", which translates into English as; "everyone gather together".
* Traditionally, a djembe drum is carved from a single piece of hardwood which is then covered with an animal skin for the drumhead.* The djembe gets its goblet shape due to the drum being made, originally, from a mortar which women used for pounding grain.
* The djembe, historically, is used in ceremonial life in the West African countries such as: Mali, Guinea, Côte-d'Ivoire, Gambia, and Senegal.
* Also note that in the Mali Empire, the djembe was played to announce the arrival of the king. It was also used as a form of long distance communication.
* Fodéba Keta, creater of the "Les Ballets Africains in 1952", brought the djembe to the attention of audiences outside of West Africa.
* Lessons on how to play the djembe were taught in the United States by Ladji Camara, a member of Les Ballets Africains, in the 1960s and 1970s.Hand-carved Djembe Drum From Africa - 13"x24" - Drum Circle Village
After import from Africa, each instrument is cleaned, inspected, tuned, and played individually to check sound and quality.
Excellent sound quality from solid handcarved wood shell and natural West African goat skin.
Comes to you tuned up, ready to play out of the box.
Hand crafted in Africa by village cultural artisans supported by the non-profit Africa Heartwood Project .
Hand-carved Djembe Drum From Africa - 13"x24" - Drum Circle Village
Color ------------------ Natural
Brand ------------------ Africa Heartwood Project
Material --------------- Tweneboa Wood
Item Dimensions LxWxH -- 13 x 13 x 24 inches
Body Material ---------- Wood
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