A Piece of African Culture The Djembe

History- The djembe is a hand crafted African drum. The djembe is also known as jembe, jenbe, yembe or sanbanyi in Susu. The drum is played with the bare hands. It is one of the most popular African drums. Most traditional African djembe drums are hand carved in Indonesia or other parts in Asia from a single piece of wood. In Africa the wood is usually made of African mahogany or iroko. Some modern djembe drums are made of synthetic materials such as Acousticon. The drum skin is commonly made of goatskin, but other animal skins may also be used, although they are more rarely used, such as antelope, zebra, deer or calf skin. The female skin is usually preferred and is always made from the babies, never the adult skin. The skin is strapped to the base usually with cords. The origin of the djembe is associated with a class of Mandinka/Susu blacksmiths known as Numu. The spread of the djembe drums throughout West Africa may be due to Numu migrations dating from the first millennium A.D. They also date back to the Mali Empire of the 19th century.

What the Djembe is used for- It is played in ceremonies such as during full moon, spring, summer and winter harvesting time, weddings, baptism, honoring of mothers, immediately after Ramadan, or in other celebrations. In African dances the djembe is used to play various beats and rhythms. The djembe is primarily the instrument of dance used at baptisms, funerals, circumcisions and excisions. Songs are also played during the ploughing, sowing and used for courtship rituals. It is even used to settle disputes among the men of the village. It is even used as a form of communication in Africa.

Here is a clip of the djembe being used at a baby naming.

How The Djembe is Played/Sounds- The primary tones are generally referred to as bass and slap. If you hit the skin near the center with the palm of your hand it produces a bass note. If you hit the skin nearer the rim with the fingers flat it produces a tone noise, and if you hit it in the same place with your fingers relaxed so that the fingertips snap to the head of the drum it makes a slap noise. The slap has a high, sharp sound and the tone is more round and full sound. It is usually played between the legs or it is just on the ground. I also know that this is how it is played from the videos and from personal experience of playing the djembe.

Here is an interesting video of the different sounds someone can play with the djembe

Who Uses the Djembe- Anyone can really use the djembe, but it is most often used my musicians. The djembe is also usually played in drum circles and in ceremonies by a master djembe player, or which is also called a djembefola in Africa. In drum circles there is usually a head drummer and there is a group of other people who accompany the main drummer in the circle and there are also people dancing to the music in the circles. I know this because of the articles I have read and the YouTube videos that explain who uses the djembes.

Here is a video of a djembe drum circle

Interesting Information and How The Djembe is Made- In African culture the djembe is said to contain three spirits: the spirit of the tree, the spirit of the animal (which the drum head is made of), and the spirit of the instrument maker. The djembe is also known as the magical drum, mushroom shaped drum, and the Devil Drum. The legend is that the djembe and/or the tree from which it is created was a gift from a Djinn, which is the malevolent demigod,which is very similar to a Genie. Djembe drums are carved from a single piece of hollowed out tree called Dimba, or Devil Wood. Drums that are made from pieces of wood glued together are considered by the traditional people to have no soul of the tree. The second video the carving and designs that can be made on the djembe. All djembe drums have different carvings and designs. No one djembe is the same as another.

Here are two videos showing how the djembe is made

Aspect of Society- The aspects of society that the djembe relates to is home, religion, and entertainment. For home it is used for entertainment and dancing. For religion it is used for many religious rituals, and for entertainment it is used at ceremonies, and for dancing.

Life with the Djembe- People of African descent could technically live their everyday lives comfortably without the djembe. They could use a variety of other drums instead of the djembe, but it is an important part of the African culture that the African people use. It makes it symbolic in celebrations and makes a unique sound that no other drum can make. So in reality I think that the djembe is something that people of African descent cannot really live without.

Here are some cool designs of the djembe

Works Cited/ Links for more information about the djembe

Here are some links that you can go to for more information about the djembe.

http://www.x8drums.com/v/blog/2010/05/how-djembe-is-made-wood-source.asp
http://www.asza.com/idjembe.shtml
http://www.africandrumstore.com/History-of-Djembe-Drums-s/24.htm
http://www.african-drumming.com/african_drums.htm
http://www.rebirth.co.za/african_drum_history_djembe_drum.htm