A Brief Guide to the Djembe
The djembe belongs to the membranophone family of musical instruments, typically played with bare hands it has a shell shaped like a large goblet and is covered with stretched animal skin. One of the most popular instruments in West Africa, the rounded shape of the djembe body creates a deep tone or bass sound when the skin of the drum is struck correctly.
Although the origin of the djembe is unclear it is generally accepted that it dates back to around the twelfth century and the time of the Mali Empire where it was used by the Mandinka or Susu tribes. As the Mandinka people migrated across Africa their blacksmiths took the djembe with them spreading its usage all across the continent. The Susu do not refer to it as the djembe but instead call it by its traditional name, the sanbayi. They believe that every djembe contains the spirit of the one who made it, the spirit of the tree from where the wood is obtained, and the spirit of the animal whose hide is used to form the drum. Although the hides of other animals were used in the past, most djembes are now made from goatskin. The makers of the instrument will decorate it using braided rope and carvings so that each one is unique in its own particular way. No two wooden djembes are the same.
The word djembe itself is actually French in origin. It was given that name by the French colonialists who spent time studying the different styles of African music and their instruments. Because there is no hard sounding 'j' in the French language the letters 'd and j' were used instead. This has led to a certain amount of confusion regarding the name of the instrument which is also known as a jembe, djimbe or yembe amongst others. Outside of Africa the drum became popular back in the 1950's and 1960's in Paris when it was used by the ballet ensemble Les Ballet Africains. Since then it has grown, and continues to grow in popularity among drumming enthusiasts the world over.
In Africa the diansa, or drum rhythm, is traditionally used in celebrations such as at weddings and baptisms and to commemorate full moons as well as the changing seasons. Some have even suggested that African peoples have used the sound produced by the drum in order to send messages over long distances, making use of the different sounds to communicate different meanings like a type of musical code language.
Djembes are sometimes played with a thin stick and sometimes accompanied by other instruments, typically bells and dundun drums. Dancers cant but help to move to the rhythm of the beat and the women of the Wolof tribe from Senegal perform the Sabar, a traditional dance used to entice and attract the opposite sex.
There are three basic ways to create sound using a djembe. The first is by hitting the centre of the djembe with the palm of an open hand, creating the 'bass' note. Hitting the edge or rim of the drum with the fingers flat produces the second sound called a 'tone', and thirdly using a similar action on the rim of the drum but with fingers relaxed is called a 'slap'.
The djembe's popularity around the world has created a demand for the instrument and now it is made by professional drum makers the world over. The drum is desired by many musical students, professional musicians and tourists as well as by hobbyists. The popularity of the djembe is understandable once you have heard it played correctly and let yourself move in time with the beat. Beautiful, tactile and soulful the djembe is destined to grow in popularity. - 18780
Although the origin of the djembe is unclear it is generally accepted that it dates back to around the twelfth century and the time of the Mali Empire where it was used by the Mandinka or Susu tribes. As the Mandinka people migrated across Africa their blacksmiths took the djembe with them spreading its usage all across the continent. The Susu do not refer to it as the djembe but instead call it by its traditional name, the sanbayi. They believe that every djembe contains the spirit of the one who made it, the spirit of the tree from where the wood is obtained, and the spirit of the animal whose hide is used to form the drum. Although the hides of other animals were used in the past, most djembes are now made from goatskin. The makers of the instrument will decorate it using braided rope and carvings so that each one is unique in its own particular way. No two wooden djembes are the same.
The word djembe itself is actually French in origin. It was given that name by the French colonialists who spent time studying the different styles of African music and their instruments. Because there is no hard sounding 'j' in the French language the letters 'd and j' were used instead. This has led to a certain amount of confusion regarding the name of the instrument which is also known as a jembe, djimbe or yembe amongst others. Outside of Africa the drum became popular back in the 1950's and 1960's in Paris when it was used by the ballet ensemble Les Ballet Africains. Since then it has grown, and continues to grow in popularity among drumming enthusiasts the world over.
In Africa the diansa, or drum rhythm, is traditionally used in celebrations such as at weddings and baptisms and to commemorate full moons as well as the changing seasons. Some have even suggested that African peoples have used the sound produced by the drum in order to send messages over long distances, making use of the different sounds to communicate different meanings like a type of musical code language.
Djembes are sometimes played with a thin stick and sometimes accompanied by other instruments, typically bells and dundun drums. Dancers cant but help to move to the rhythm of the beat and the women of the Wolof tribe from Senegal perform the Sabar, a traditional dance used to entice and attract the opposite sex.
There are three basic ways to create sound using a djembe. The first is by hitting the centre of the djembe with the palm of an open hand, creating the 'bass' note. Hitting the edge or rim of the drum with the fingers flat produces the second sound called a 'tone', and thirdly using a similar action on the rim of the drum but with fingers relaxed is called a 'slap'.
The djembe's popularity around the world has created a demand for the instrument and now it is made by professional drum makers the world over. The drum is desired by many musical students, professional musicians and tourists as well as by hobbyists. The popularity of the djembe is understandable once you have heard it played correctly and let yourself move in time with the beat. Beautiful, tactile and soulful the djembe is destined to grow in popularity. - 18780
About the Author:
Baz Waters is the owner of EthnicPercussion.co.uk, an online shop providing high quality djembe, bougarabou and dundun drums within the UK.
posted by X - Men at
2:38 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home