I came back from school one day at the beginning of March. From a distance, I heard an extraordinary drum roll from among a group of drums. Its tone was so clear that caught my attention. I ran towards the sound and when I got there, a man with powerful arms and rough hands was performing an exciting rhythm on a percussion instrument.
It was the djembe or jeme, a drum with a laced head. The instrument was being played together with a second djembe and another percussion instrument called the "doudoumba" which provided the bass. I chose this instrument because it links together a number of African cultures. It has a pure and delightful sound.
Africa is the continent of rhythm and dance and this is embodied in percussion instruments. I came home from school one day at the beginning of March. From a distance, I heard an extraordinary drum roll from among a group of drums. Its tone was so clear that it caught my attention. I ran towards the sound and when I got there, a man with powerful arms and rough hands was performing an exciting rhythm on a percussion instrument. It was the djembe or jeme, a drum with a laced head, being played together with a s Read More
It was the djembe or jeme, a drum with a laced head. The instrument was being played together with a second djembe and another percussion instrument called the "doudoumba" which provided the bass. I chose this instrument because it links together a number of African cultures. It has a pure and delightful sound.
Africa is the continent of rhythm and dance and this is embodied in percussion instruments. I came home from school one day at the beginning of March. From a distance, I heard an extraordinary drum roll from among a group of drums. Its tone was so clear that it caught my attention. I ran towards the sound and when I got there, a man with powerful arms and rough hands was performing an exciting rhythm on a percussion instrument. It was the djembe or jeme, a drum with a laced head, being played together with a s Read More
I came back from school one day at the beginning of March. From a distance, I heard an extraordinary drum roll from among a group of drums. Its tone was so clear that caught my attention. I ran towards the sound and when I got there, a man with powerful arms and rough hands was performing an exciting rhythm on a percussion instrument.
It was the djembe or jeme, a drum with a laced head. The instrument was being played together with a second djembe and another percussion instrument called the "doudoumba" which provided the bass. I chose this instrument because it links together a number of African cultures. It has a pure and delightful sound.
Africa is the continent of rhythm and dance and this is embodied in percussion instruments. I came home from school one day at the beginning of March. From a distance, I heard an extraordinary drum roll from among a group of drums. Its tone was so clear that it caught my attention. I ran towards the sound and when I got there, a man with powerful arms and rough hands was performing an exciting rhythm on a percussion instrument. It was the djembe or jeme, a drum with a laced head, being played together with a second djembe and another percussion instrument called the "doudoumba" which provided the bass. They were playing for the baptism of a son of the district chief.
At the end of the festivities, I wanted to know more about this extraordinary instrument. Here is what the djembe player told me. The djembe is a Malinke instrument. The Malinke are from Conakry in West African Guinea.
Some say that the name "djembe" comes from the sound the instrument makes when it vibrates, making it an example of onomatopoeia. The intermixing of people on the African continent helped to promote the popularization of the instrument. Today, the djembe can be found in Bobo in western Burkina Faso, the second largest city in the country. The djembe is very expressive and is becoming widely popular throughout Burkina Faso.
The instrument is made from the "caïcedrat" tree, carved into a cylindrical shape and covered on top with a membrane of tanned goat skin held in place by three iron rings attached with neatly laced cords. The djembe must always be kept dry.
This is what this great virtuoso djembe player told me about the instrument. I would like to play it as well as he does.
It was the djembe or jeme, a drum with a laced head. The instrument was being played together with a second djembe and another percussion instrument called the "doudoumba" which provided the bass. I chose this instrument because it links together a number of African cultures. It has a pure and delightful sound.
Africa is the continent of rhythm and dance and this is embodied in percussion instruments. I came home from school one day at the beginning of March. From a distance, I heard an extraordinary drum roll from among a group of drums. Its tone was so clear that it caught my attention. I ran towards the sound and when I got there, a man with powerful arms and rough hands was performing an exciting rhythm on a percussion instrument. It was the djembe or jeme, a drum with a laced head, being played together with a second djembe and another percussion instrument called the "doudoumba" which provided the bass. They were playing for the baptism of a son of the district chief.
At the end of the festivities, I wanted to know more about this extraordinary instrument. Here is what the djembe player told me. The djembe is a Malinke instrument. The Malinke are from Conakry in West African Guinea.
Some say that the name "djembe" comes from the sound the instrument makes when it vibrates, making it an example of onomatopoeia. The intermixing of people on the African continent helped to promote the popularization of the instrument. Today, the djembe can be found in Bobo in western Burkina Faso, the second largest city in the country. The djembe is very expressive and is becoming widely popular throughout Burkina Faso.
The instrument is made from the "caïcedrat" tree, carved into a cylindrical shape and covered on top with a membrane of tanned goat skin held in place by three iron rings attached with neatly laced cords. The djembe must always be kept dry.
This is what this great virtuoso djembe player told me about the instrument. I would like to play it as well as he does.
© 1999, CHIN. All Rights Reserved.
Djembe (drum)
Burkina Faso Cultural Heritage Branch
Ouagadougou, BURKINA FASO
wood, goat skin, leather or nylon lacing and iron rings
© 1999, CHIN. All Rights Reserved.
The djembe is made and used in the same way in Mali, Senegal, Guinea and the Ivory Coast as well as in Burkina Faso. The djembe is an instrument of Malinke origin.
Canadian Heritage Information Network
Burkina Faso Cultural Heritage Branch
© 1999, CHIN. All Rights Reserved.
Djembe
Burkina Faso Cultural Heritage Branch
© 1999, CHIN. All Rights Reserved.
The djembe is made and used in the same way in Mali, Senegal, Guinea and the Ivory Coast as well as in Burkina Faso.
The djembe is best known in western Burkina Faso (Bobo-Dioulasso, Banfora, the second and fourth largest cities in the country respectively). In Ouagadougou, it seems likely to take over the traditional instrument scene.
The djembe is an instrument of Malinke origin.
The name djembe is said to be an onomatopoeia and to derive from the sound the instrument makes as it resonates with its vibrations. It is made from the "caïcedrat" tree and has a cylindrical shape. The upper part is covered with a membrane of tanned goat skin held in place by three iron rings laced with cording.
According to tradition, the djembe must be shielded from sudden changes in temperature and humidity. The instrument is used for popular events and can be played by any experienced drummer either as a solo instrument or together with other instruments.
The djembe is found in the previously mentioned places in Burkina Faso and is played by traditional and modern musical groups.
The djembe is best known in western Burkina Faso (Bobo-Dioulasso, Banfora, the second and fourth largest cities in the country respectively). In Ouagadougou, it seems likely to take over the traditional instrument scene.
The djembe is an instrument of Malinke origin.
The name djembe is said to be an onomatopoeia and to derive from the sound the instrument makes as it resonates with its vibrations. It is made from the "caïcedrat" tree and has a cylindrical shape. The upper part is covered with a membrane of tanned goat skin held in place by three iron rings laced with cording.
According to tradition, the djembe must be shielded from sudden changes in temperature and humidity. The instrument is used for popular events and can be played by any experienced drummer either as a solo instrument or together with other instruments.
The djembe is found in the previously mentioned places in Burkina Faso and is played by traditional and modern musical groups.
The djembe is made and used in the same way in Mali, Senegal, Guinea and the Ivory Coast as well as in Burkina Faso.
The djembe is best known in western Burkina Faso (Bobo-Dioulasso, Banfora, the second and fourth largest cities in the country respectively). In Ouagadougou, it seems likely to take over the traditional instrument scene.
The djembe is an instrument of Malinke origin.
The name djembe is said to be an onomatopoeia and to derive from the sound the instrument makes as it resonates with its vibrations. It is made from the "caïcedrat" tree and has a cylindrical shape. The upper part is covered with a membrane of tanned goat skin held in place by three iron rings laced with cording.
According to tradition, the djembe must be shielded from sudden changes in temperature and humidity. The instrument is used for popular events and can be played by any experienced drummer either as a solo instrument or together with other instruments.
The djembe is found in the previously mentioned places in Burkina Faso and is played by traditional and modern musical groups.
The djembe is best known in western Burkina Faso (Bobo-Dioulasso, Banfora, the second and fourth largest cities in the country respectively). In Ouagadougou, it seems likely to take over the traditional instrument scene.
The djembe is an instrument of Malinke origin.
The name djembe is said to be an onomatopoeia and to derive from the sound the instrument makes as it resonates with its vibrations. It is made from the "caïcedrat" tree and has a cylindrical shape. The upper part is covered with a membrane of tanned goat skin held in place by three iron rings laced with cording.
According to tradition, the djembe must be shielded from sudden changes in temperature and humidity. The instrument is used for popular events and can be played by any experienced drummer either as a solo instrument or together with other instruments.
The djembe is found in the previously mentioned places in Burkina Faso and is played by traditional and modern musical groups.
© 1999, CHIN. All Rights Reserved.
Learning Objectives
The learner will:
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Understand that music is an expression in all cultures
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Understand that the relationship between personal feelings and music transcends borders and cultures
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Develop respect for music from a variety of cultural contexts
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Examine traditional music practices in selected Francophone countries
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Demonstrate geographical awareness by identifying Francophone countries
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Be aware of the musical contributions of various cultural groups in their own community
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Understand that all world music can be organized within a standard classification system
