Djembé

The djembé, also known as the djembe, is a powerful beaker drum and belongs to the percussion instruments of African origin. The body consists of a hollowed-out tree trunk. The word djembé has its origins in the Bambara language and means “together in peace”.

The djembé was traditionally used at various cultural events such as weddings, funerals and other occasions. The djembé usually reaches a height of around 60 centimetres, while the diameter of the stringing, usually made from shorn goatskin, is around 30 centimetres. A characteristic feature of the djembé is that it is played exclusively with the hands. Its sound spectrum is broad, with the deep basses being produced by the special cup shape of the body, which acts as a Helmholtz resonator when the djembé is played.

The djembé is used both as a solo instrument and in ensembles. Its versatility makes it a fascinating instrument that not only emphasizes the rhythmic nuances of individual players, but also fits harmoniously into larger musical contexts.

History

The djembé drum is said to have been invented in the 12th century by the Malinke tribe, which is indigenous to modern-day Mali in West Africa. The production of djembé drums was traditionally reserved for the blacksmiths (Maninka numun) of the Malinke ethnic group in what are now the West African countries of Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast.

With their metal tools, they were able to hollow out tree trunks and carve drum bodies. The shape was modeled on the African mortar, but was refined over time. The Malinke preferred to use Lenké hardwood, which grew in their settlement area and was suitable for the high tensile strength of the drum stringing due to its particular strength. Today, the most sought-after djembéns are still made from the best of these special African tonewoods.

The first djembé reached the western world via Paris between 1940 and 1960, partly through films and partly through the tours of the Ballets Africains under the direction of the Guinean Fodéba Keïta with the then young Papa Ladji Camara. Subsequent adaptations by various companies lived above all from the charm of the West African djembé sounds, and so the djembé became increasingly popular – today it can be found in ensembles all over the world. Taufiq Qureshi played the djembé.

Structure

The wooden body of a traditional djembé is carefully crafted by hand from a single tree trunk, making each drum unique. The wall thickness of the body is around 25 millimetres at the lower opening and slightly less at the upper edge under the skin.

Originally, antelope skin was used for djembé, but today thinly shorn goat skin is preferred. On the traditional djembé, the skin is pulled over the upper opening of the wooden body with the help of two metal rings wrapped in fabric. A string system and a third metal ring, which is pulled around the waist of the drum, tighten the skin. Instead of the indigenous cords made of natural materials that used to be common, a four to six millimeter thick, pre-stretched polyester cord is often used today.

A traditional djembé is tuned using special tension knots that are tied according to a simple pattern. They run from the bottom of the metal ring in an ascending helical line towards the skin. When tuning or re-tensioning the djembé, adjacent longitudinal strings are pulled together with the help of the surrounding tension cord. This tightens the mesh around the upper part of the drum, tensions the head and influences the sound.

However, the final tension of the skin and therefore the sound of the drum depend not only on the strings, but also on the temperature and humidity. Some djembé players adjust their instruments before performances by exposing the skin to the heat of a fire. This can lead to additional tension, but also to cracks.

Sound or sound generation

Each djembé has its own sound spectrum, which is mainly determined by the tonewood used, the shape of the body, the skin and the tension of the skin. Depending on the hand tension and point of attack, there are three basic strokes: the deep bass stroke (bass) in the middle of the skin, the “open” stroke at the edge of the skin (open/tone) and the slap, which is also struck at the edge of the skin but whip-like.

However, the overall sound spectrum of the djembé is far more differentiated – with good playing technique, many other subtle nuances are possible, such as light taps with the fingertips, trills with the index or middle finger and double strokes (flaps/flams), in which both hands are struck almost simultaneously in immediate succession. Many players also attach special rattle plates (kessings) to their instruments, which produce an additional, metallic rattling sound (snare) when drumming.

Playing technique

The djembé can be played in three different ways: standing, sitting on a chair or sitting directly on the djembé. For solo performances in an ensemble, the musicians often prefer the standing position in order to follow the dancers and respond directly to the dance. In this case, the drum is hung around the neck and upper body with a strap or cloth.

Sitting on a chair, the djembé is tilted slightly forwards so that the bass can come out of the lower opening. The drum is held between the legs or fixed with a hip belt. In the third position, the djembé lies on the floor and the player sits on the body, approximately at waist level.

The playing posture should always be upright and relaxed so that the arms have sufficient strength and speed. The djembé is struck exclusively with the hands, with the forearms in line with the drum head when the hands rest flat on the center of the skin. The beats are played with the arms, usually alternating between right and left. Ideally, they flow smoothly into one another, creating a graceful “dance of the arms”.

How much does a good djembé cost?

The price of a good djembé is between 80 and 300 euros. High-quality “signature” djembées are available for around 1,000 euros. Different materials and designs reflect the cost. It is important to choose a djembé that suits your own abilities and budget. At the same time, it should have the desired sound character and playing comfort.