African Djembe Hand
African Djembe Hand
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![]() Tycoon Hand Carved 10 African Djembe T2 Finish US $229.95
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![]() Tycoon Hand Carved 12 African Djembe T2 Finish US $239.95
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![]() Tycoon Percussion 10 African Djembe Hand Drum US $129.95
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![]() Tycoon Percussion 12 African Djembe Hand Drum US $169.95
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![]() LIMITED STOCK ENGRAVE JERUSALM HANDMADE WOOD MIDI DARBUKA DJEMBA US $14.76
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![]() Djembe Cover Kente Cloth Djembe Hat Medium 95 Diameter US $5.49
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![]() 20x11 Deep Carve African Style Djembe Bongo Hand Drum US $99.00
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![]() Ivory Elite Pro African Djembe Full Size FREE SHIPPING US $339.00
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![]() TOCA Percussion Hand Carved 13 Djembe US $249.95
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![]() Grand Stallion Monster Djembe Drum 27x17 FREE SHIP US $359.00
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![]() Pro Matahari Carved Djembe Drum 24x12 FREE BAG US $239.00
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![]() Professional Matahari Carved Djembe Drum FREE BAG US $159.00
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![]() Antique Hand Carved Djembe 24x12 w Bag FREE SHIPPING US $197.99
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![]() Natural Hand Carved Djembe 20x10 w Bag FREE SHIPPING US $118.99
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![]() AFRICAN STYLE CERAMIC GREEN UDU PERCUSSION JUG DRUM US $79.95
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![]() Mid East 12 x 22 Hand Hewn Cord Tuned Goatskin Head African Djembe Drum US $245.65
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![]() African Djembe Hand Made Hand Carved 12 US $329.00
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![]() 100 AFRICAN Wood Djembe Drum Percussion Instrument 9 US $99.99
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![]() Tycoon Percussion 9 Dancing Drum Djembe New US $179.00
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![]() MIDI HANDMADE WOOD DRUM PERCUSSION DARBUKA DOUMBEK US $19.00
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![]() JERUSALEM MIDI SIZE DARBUKA DOUMBEK DRUM DJEMBA US $19.44
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![]() SPECIAL HANDMADE WOOD DRUM PERCUSSION DARBUKA DOUMBEK US $18.95
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![]() MIDI HANDMADE PERCUSSION DARBUKA DOUMBEK DRUM US $19.25
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![]() HANDMADE JERUSALEM MIDI DARBUKA DOUMBEK WOOD DRUM US $19.75
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![]() NEW JERUSALEM MIDI DARBUKA DOUMBEK DRUM US $19.58
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![]() SPECIAL 2012 MIDI DARBUKA DOUMBEK DRUM JERUSALEM ENGRAVE US $19.59
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![]() NEW 2012 JERUSALEM ENGRAVE MIDI DARBUKA DOUMBEK DRUM US $19.59
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![]() 13FACE x 255H TALL BOOMING AFRICAN DJEMBE DRUM US $168.00
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![]() 7FACE x 145H LOUD AFRICAN DJEMBE DRUM US $51.00
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![]() TOCA SDVR 7 SYNERGY VUUR AFRICAN DJEMBE DRUM 7 INCH RED US $34.99
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![]() TOCA SDVNP 8 SYNERGY VRYHELD AFRICAN DJEMBE DRUM 8 INCH US $49.00
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![]() TOCA SDVNP 12 SYNERGY VRYHELD AFRICAN DJEMBE DRUM US $119.99
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![]() TOCA SDVNP 10 SYNERGY VRYHELD AFRICAN DJEMBE DRUM US $69.99
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![]() DogStar Custom Djembe Handmade Performance Drum Black Walnut 11 04 African US $575.00
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African Drumming with a Djembe
Among the group of membranophone instruments is the djembe. In its traditional form this drum is constructed of wood in the shape of a big goblet with animal skin stretched over it. One of West Africas favourite drums it produces 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). When the blacksmiths of the Mandinka tribe crossed Africa the djembe, or sanbayi as the Susu call it, went with them and as a result it became widespread. The people of these tribes believe that the instrument 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 for the drum. Modern day players prefer to have drums with a goatskin hide that they personalize with braided rope and designs carved into the wood.
Surprisingly the word djembe is actually French in origin and not African as you might suspect. The French colonised parts of Africa and studied the music styles of the people as well as their instruments. As they do not have a hard 'j' within their language they chose to use 'dj' and it is this spelling that has gained the most recognition. There are currently many 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. Since then the drum has continued to grow in popularity around the world, especially amongst professional musicians who are appreciative of its unique and tribal 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 language.
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.
There are three basic ways to create sound using a djembe. The first is by hitting the centre of the djembe with the palm of an open hand, creating the 'bass' note. Hitting the edge or rim of the drum with the fingers flat produces the second sound called a 'tone', and thirdly using a similar action on the rim of the drum but with fingers relaxed is called a 'slap'.
Djembe drums are now made by specialist drum makers all over the world and are sought after by students, tourists, professional musicians and hobbyists alike. When you hear a djembe being played well it is not easy to resist grooving to the sound and even beginners will appreciate the primal energy of handling this african drum.
About the Author
Baz Waters runs EthnicPercussion.co.uk, an internet store based in the UK that provides djembe, african drums, didgeridoos and other ethnic percussion instruments in the UK.


US $262.95




























































































