Among the group of membranophone instruments is the djembe. Typically made from wood it is shaped like a large goblet over which is stretched an animal skin. One of the most popular drums of West Africa, when struck properly it produces a deep bass sound thanks to its shell shaped body.

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 is of the person who makes the djembe, one is from the tree from which the wood is obtained, and one is from the animal whose hide is used for the drum. Today, people prefer to use goatskin to cover the drum and they decorate it by carving designs into the wood and attaching braided rope to it to give each one a unique appearance and flair.

The word djembe itself is actually French in origin. It was given that name by the French colonialists who spent time studying the different styles of African music and their instruments. Because there is no hard sounding ‘j’ in the French language the letters ‘d and j’ were used instead. This has led to a certain amount of confusion regarding the name of the instrument which is also known as a jembe, djimbe or yembe amongst others. Outside of Africa the drum became popular back in the 1950′s and 1960′s in Paris when it was used by the ballet ensemble Les Ballet Africains. Since then it has grown, and continues to grow in popularity among drumming enthusiasts the world over.

The Africans call the rhythm produced by the drum diansa. Djembes are played at different celebrations including weddings and baptisms and also to celebrate the full moon and the changing seasons. Some have even speculated that the African peoples used the djembe to communicate with each other over large distances, changing the sounds to convey different meanings. Whether this is true or not is unknown at present.

In its traditional form the djembe is played with an accompaniment of bells and the dundun drum, often with a dancer responding to the rhythm of the djembe. It is also sometimes played with a thin stick as well as the hand. The Wolof tribe of Senegal, for example, use the djembe while women dance the ‘Sabar’, a provocative dance to entice males.

To create the djembe’s unique sound there are three basic ways. The first is to hit the middle of the drum using the palm of an open hand to produce a satisfying bass tone. By striking the edge of the drum with flat fingers produces a different sound called a ‘tone’, and the third way is to strike the rim with relaxed fingers, this is referred to as a ‘slap’.

The djembe’s popularity around the world has created a demand for the instrument and now it is made by professional drum makers the world over. The drum is desired by many musical students, professional musicians and tourists as well as by hobbyists. The popularity of the djembe is understandable once you have heard it played correctly and let yourself move in time with the beat. Beautiful, tactile and soulful the djembe is destined to grow in popularity.

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