Hoe oud is de djembe?

De overlevering plaatst de oorsprong van de djembe in de 13e eeuw ten tijde van het Malinké rijk, dat nu het grensgebied van Guinee en Mali is. De eerste registratie van de djembe (op foto’s) stamt uit het begin van de 20e eeuw van een cultureel festival dat door de Franse kolonialisten werd georganiseerd.

What is a djembe drum?

A djembe is a type of West African drum that is goblet shaped. It is traditionally carved from a single piece of wood with a skin stretched over the top. A djembe is normally 23 -25 tall, but can be smaller. Child sized drums are often made so even the young can learn to play. This article addresses the basics of playing this type of drum.

What is the correct height of a djembe?

A djembe is normally 23-25″ in height but can be smaller in many villages in Africa. We like to say the perfect height of a djembe is 24 1/2″. Children often play djembe drums that are only 12-15″ tall and they strap them on and play in a standing position as they copy their adult teachers.

Is it worth it to buy a real djembe?

While it is hard to find a real djembe worth playing, built with the spirit of the wood, the skin and the maker it is worth the years necessary to invest in finding such a drum. Very often, current djembe-style drums are not being made traditionally. Some argue that it is better to have a djembe style drum than to not have a drum at all.

Why is the djembe so popular in West Africa?

Hundreds of years later, the djembe gained a new following after West African countries gained independence. Highlighting the old culture of these newly sovereign states, djembe was used in national ballets, and drew emphasis to the djembe as a premier musical instrument and solo voice, rather than as an accompaniment to song and dance.

A djembe is a type of West African drum that is goblet shaped. It is traditionally carved from a single piece of wood with a skin stretched over the top. A djembe is normally 23 -25 tall, but can be smaller. Child sized drums are often made so even the young can learn to play. This article addresses the basics of playing this type of drum.

A djembe is normally 23-25″ in height but can be smaller in many villages in Africa. We like to say the perfect height of a djembe is 24 1/2″. Children often play djembe drums that are only 12-15″ tall and they strap them on and play in a standing position as they copy their adult teachers.

While it is hard to find a real djembe worth playing, built with the spirit of the wood, the skin and the maker it is worth the years necessary to invest in finding such a drum. Very often, current djembe-style drums are not being made traditionally. Some argue that it is better to have a djembe style drum than to not have a drum at all.

Hundreds of years later, the djembe gained a new following after West African countries gained independence. Highlighting the old culture of these newly sovereign states, djembe was used in national ballets, and drew emphasis to the djembe as a premier musical instrument and solo voice, rather than as an accompaniment to song and dance.

Djembe muziek. De djembe muziek vind zijn oorsprong in het middeleeuwse Mali-rijk (1230 tot 1600) van de Mandinka beschaving (nu Mali, Guinee, Burkina Faso, Ivoorkust, Liberia en Senegal). Het rijk werd gesticht door Sundiata Keita (1217 tot 1255) of Sundjata Keiyta.

Hoe ziet een djembé eruit?

De traditionele djembé wordt met de hand gemaakt. Een boomstam wordt uitgehold en bespannen met een geitenvel. Dit vel wordt via een touw-bespanning op de djembé bevestigd. Een boomsoort waarvan traditioneel djembés gemaakt worden is de lenke (Afzelia africana).