Why is the djembe drum so popular in Africa?
Its huge popularity is down to the fact that it can create an unusually wide range of pitches, namely the bass (low), tone (medium) and slap (high). These sounds are created by striking different areas of the djembe skin with the hands.
What is African djembe used for?
Musicians use the djembe as the instrument of dance at marriages, baptisms, funerals, circumcisions and excisions. They also play songs during the ploughing, sowing and harvest, during courtship rituals and even to settle disputes among the men of the village.
What is the most used drum in Africa?
djembes
The main and most common African drums are djembes. However, don’t overlook the joy you might get playing the dundun, also called a talking drum; the three drum set known as the bata; or strap on your bangle bracelets and play the bougarabou.
Where in the world is the djembe still a much played musical instrument?
Most djembes from Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Senegal are still hand carved from traditional species of wood, using traditional tools and methods.
What does the African drum symbolize?
In much of Africa, drums are considered to symbolize and protect royalty, which often leads to their being housed in sacred dwellings. They can also be considered as a primitive telephone, since drums are also used to communicate with tribes that are miles and miles away.
Where do djembes come from?
The djembe drum is most likely about 400-800 years old, and was created during the Malian Empire by the Mandé people. It spanned the modern-day countries of Senegal, southern Mauritania, Mali, northern Burkina Faso, western Niger, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, the Ivory Coast and northern Ghana.
What is the most important part of the djembe?
The lead djembe’s role is to play solo phrases that accentuate the movements of the dancers.
What type of music is the djembe used in?
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.
Where does the djembe drum come from in Africa?
History Of The Djembe. This is interesting to me as the djembe in Africa and in America comes from the kitchens of Africa. Most percussion instruments come from those outdoor African kitchens. Wood and metal make up the kitchen utensils and so it is with the djembe and dunun (the bass drum of the dununba).
Can a djembe player change the beat of the drum?
However, the music can also begin in a different fashion. The djembe player can change the beat of the drums in order to change the song, and the singer and instrumental players use the rhythm to recognize what they should be playing and adding to the whole.
Can a djembe be played with your hands?
Growing in popularity all the time this African drum will add real depth and tone to your music. Played with the hands, almost anyone can pick up a djembe and have a go; but learning the top 5 djembe drumming techniques is a little harder.
Why did the blacksmith make the first djembe?
It is taught that the Blacksmiths made the first djembes, making each drum custom-fitted to the drummer who would play it. This makes sense as they would be the people to cut the tree. The making of the drum was spiritual, and the blacksmith was obliged to make offerings to the spirits of the trees he cut down.