What is a fact about the djembe?

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.

Who invented the djembe drum?

Mandinke tribe
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.

What is the purpose of the djembe drum?

What is the djembe drum used for? Musicians use the djembe as the instrument of dance at marriages, baptisms, funerals, circumcisions and excisions. They also play songs during the ploughing, sowing and harvest, during courtship rituals and even to settle disputes among the men of the village.

Why is the djembe important in African culture?

The djembe’s primary purpose was for storytelling musicians to pass on important religious, historical and cultural messages, often across multiple generations.

Where does the name djembe come from?

According to the Bambara people in Mali, the name of the djembe comes from the saying “Anke djé, anke bé” which translates to “everyone gather together in peace” and defines the drum’s purpose. In the Bambara language, “djé” is the verb for “gather” and “bé” translates as “peace.”

What wood is a djembe made from?

mahogany hardwood
Each drum is meticulously hand-carved from a piece of lawfully collected, plantation cultivated mahogany hardwood.

How does the djembe make a sound?

The bass sound is produced by striking the drum with the palm and flat fingers near the center of the skin. Tone and slap are produced by striking the drum closer to the edge; the contact area of the fingers determines whether the sound is a tone or a slap.

How many types of djembe are there?

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.

How is djembe played?

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.

What does the sound of the djembe drum symbolize?

The Djembe Drum The rhythms beat upon the Djembe can often be heard in the air in the evenings, particularly during the full moon, weddings, baptisms, honoring mothers, to celebrate the conclusion of Ramadaan, and to honour the spring, summer and winter harvesting times.

Is the djembe sacred?

A sacred and versatile drum used traditionally in healing ceremonies, ancestor worship, rites of passage, warrior rituals, as well as social dances. Today, djembes are the most popular drums for playing in drum circles and are also widely used in various types of popular music.

What symbolizes the sound that African drums make?

In much of Africa, drums are considered to symbolize and protect royalty, which often leads to their being housed in sacred dwellings. They can also be considered as a primitive telephone, since drums are also used to communicate with tribes that are miles and miles away.

How long does it take to make a djembe?

Time could be anywhere from a week to three months depending on whether the tree was freshly fallen.