Traditional djembe music consists of a drum ensemble of made up of mostly djembe players, known as djembefolas, with other African hand drums as accompaniment, such as the dunun or khassonka . Each part of the ensemble plays a different repeating rhythmic pattern, called a cycle, at differing pitches.
What is the djembe traditionally made of?
The djembe has a body (or shell) carved of hardwood and a drumhead made of untreated (not limed) rawhide , most commonly made from goatskin. Excluding rings, djembes have an exterior diameter of 30–38 cm (12–15 in) and a height of 58–63 cm (23–25 in).
What are the parts of a djembe?
- A wood shell, usually hand carved.
- 3 metal rings (2 large, 1 small)
- 3 lengths of rope.
- A drum skin.
What are Sekeseke traditionally used for?
The Sekeseke
They resonate in sympathy when the drum is played and accent the notes of the drum or kora (harp) with a jingling sound that adds to the ‘voice of the drum’. Similar resonators are used on other African instruments such as the mbira and the balafon.
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 can you tell a good djembe?
A perfect djembe should have 3/16′′ (4mm-5mm) rope that is round and not frayed. The djembe should be between 22.5′′ to 25′′ tall (we like 24.5′′).
What are the three spirits of the djembe?
Africans say that the drum contains three spirits. The belief is that the djembe drum contains the spirit of the tree from which it was made, the spirit of the animal whose skin is played, and the spirit of the carver or the one who cut the tree and the people who assemble the drum .
What is the djembe also called?
The djembe drum is also known as the “Devil Drum” because it was traditionally made from hollow-out trees called Dimba, also known as “Devil Wood.”
Did drums come from Africa?
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 does the wood of the djembe represent?
Djembes were traditionally carved from hollowed out Dimba trees, the name of which means “ Devil Wood .” The djinn gave the djembe as a gift to the Malinke people, and many believe that the wood is imbued with the power to make the African people dance. The second spirit of the djembe is found in the drum head.
What does the rope do on the djembe?
By having even tension the skin will vibrate at the same level all the way around the drum, creating a more full, resonant sound . Regarding sight and touch indicators, the feel of the skin, movement of the rope, and level of the rings can all help determine if the djembe should be tuned.
What is the biggest djembe?
The 12-13′′X24′′ is a standard full size djembe, suitable for most adult male and female drummers. The height is just right for most drummers to play sitting in a regular folding chair. The head size is adequate for average adult size hands to comfortably play with proper djembe technique.
How loud is a djembe?
Djembe is loud: up to 105 dB , which is about the same volume as a jackhammer.
Is djembe easy to learn?
In fact, a hand drum like a djembe can easily fulfill all the needs of a drummer, and more. The djembe is easy to learn , no matter the musical skill or ability of the person it sits before. Starting out with djembe drumming is as simple as beating out the rhythm to a favorite song.
