The Djembe Drum

Djembe can also be known as jembe, sanbanyi jymbe or yembe. The Djembe is the most popular drums in Africa. Djembe  is the drum of the Maninka people. This drum goes all the way back to the 13^th century.
Played with bare hands the Djembe is made from one piece of wood and is carved in to it’s preferred goblet shape. It’s a skinned drum that’s intestinally meant to be played with bare hands.  The body depth determines the range within the sound of the drum. The body of the drum is made from either carved wood, wood cut by a chainsaw, molded wood or turned in to one piece. The wood used is maple, oak, alder or cedar. Molded Djembe drums are of very little similarity to other West African drums where as carved drums are thicker which gives of a more authentic and stronger sound.
The skin of the drum is made of goatskin, which is normally used from goats in Mali, which is wet shaved and dried with coca butter to help the skin remain supple on the drums.  The goatskins from Mali tend to last longer and not split as easily. The single goatskin piece is stretched between 6 and 18 inches depending on the body of the drum.  Cotton cloth is used to prevent rusting.  The rings attaching the skin are strung together with a colored piece of string. All drums are completely hand made!

This Drum has spread and is now most popular in the Western side of Africa.