Djembe

With its remarkably flexible range of tones, produced by its thin goat skin, shape and tight tuning, the Djembe is West Africa’s most popular drum. Used throughout West Africa today, it is traditionally from Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso and the Ivory Coast amongst the Bambara, Mandingo and Malinka tribes.

Sizes, prices and ordering

The bass is played with an open hand in the centre of the drum producing an incredibly deep and resonant note.
The tone is played on the side of the skin with a firm hand, producing a high pitched note.
The slap is played by an open hand pivoted on the side of the drum, throwing the fingers forward to slap the skin. This produces a crisp, sharp note which can cut through the loudest music.

The Producers
The drums are made at one of Ghana’s leading drum workshops ‘Bomukasa’ in the capital city Accra. The workshop was originally set up by the sculptor, artist and furniture maker Louis Kojo Botchway in the 1970s. The workshop is renowned in Ghana, winning National awards for its work and being chosen to represent the country abroad at International Exhibitions. Drum making was introduced in the 1980s, artists and sculptors working with drummers and drum makers to produce high quality professional instruments for the internal and export market.