Djembe

Also: jembe

The djembe is a goblet-shaped drum, carved from a single piece of wood with a goat skin stretched over the head, played with bare hands. It is said to have been created by the Mandinka blacksmith caste in Mali, and a skilled player can produce a bass, a tone and a slap. Djembes are played in ensembles with dunun bass drums and bells, at weddings, initiations, harvests and festivals, and the drummer leads the dancers with calls and breaks. Drum teachers from Guinea and Mali have taught the instrument around the world. A good djembe is made with respect for the tree, which is thanked.

Region: Sub-Saharan Africa

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