Break Away II

The rhythm of African drums truly gets to you “you cannot ignore it: it gets your toes drumming and you’re feeling drawn in by the strong, resonating beat and special sound of these traditional instruments that have endured for decades and are still popular the world over. Their influence has spread to many nations, most clearly the Caribbean, the West Indies and Latin America.

Maybe one of the explanations they are so popular is they don't need you to be well placed to read music or have great musical talent: if you have got a sense of rhythm you can love playing these drums for hours. In spite of their primitive simplicity: they're so basic; goblet formed, made sometimes of hardwood with goatskin stretched OTT; they've an enduring appeal and are played widely even today.

There are many firms which specialize in the construction and distribution of these dazzling instruments and you'll have absolutely no Problems in finding a source for them. Among the premiere brands are Remo, Tiger, Kambala, Toca and Meinl. Some African drums are now made in synthetic materials, but if you can get your hands on a genuine drum, made in Africa, although it is sort of old, do not hesitate to buy it, as you will have a treasure in your possession.

Go to nearly any African hamlet and you are likely to hear someone playing African drums, typically with an audience of a few kids gathered around, with some listening and others dancing carelessly to the compelling rhythm. There are genuine videos posted on You Tube, showing just such scenes. You may hear them being played in bars in Jamaica or in cities and villages in Nicaragua or Brazil. Once you have the drum in your possession, it is prepared to be played and the more that you play it, the more at ease you will be with the instrument. Play a bit of acceptable music on a CD and go with the music with the drum. You will find infinite methods of easy entertainment for several hours.

The best known African drums are the djembe drum, djun djun, bougarabou, gadzo, conga and kpanlogo but there are others and they have all played a vital part in African culture and religion for centuries. They're used at marriages, funerals, to celebrate births, in ritual dances, at the installation of chiefs and in many ceremonies. To Africans they are an important part of life and an irreplaceable accompaniment in the assorted events connected with African culture. Check out the many sites dedicated to these drums and consider buying one or more for yourself: you'll own history and be linked to the oldest practices in the world.

Claudia Kasen favours the sound of African music especially the Doumbek drum. View her wide selection of stunning real African drums at her site thru the link provided.

The djembe is part of the membranophone family of drums. Typically made from wood it is shaped like a large goblet over which is stretched an animal skin. One of the most popular drums of West Africa, when struck properly it produces a deep bass sound thanks to its shell shaped body.

The origins of the djembe can be traced all the way back to the twelfth century and the Mali Empire and the tribes of either the Susu or Mandika. When the blacksmiths of the Mandinka tribe crossed Africa the djembe, or sanbayi as the Susu call it, went with them and as a result it became widespread. The people of these tribes believe that the instrument contains three spirits, one of the person who makes the djembe, one from the tree from which the wood is taken, and one from the animal whose hide is used for the drum. Nowadays players prefer to have drums with a goatskin hide that they make unique with braided rope and designs carved into the wood.

The word djembe itself is not actually African, it is in fact French. The French colonised parts of Africa and studied the music styles of the people as well as their instruments. As they do not have a hard ‘j’ in their language they chose to use ‘dj’ and it is this spelling that has gained the greatest recognition. There are currently many accepted spellings of the drum including jembe, djimbe and yembe. In the 1950′s and 1960′s the djembe became well known in and around Paris primarily as it was used extensively by the ballet ensemble Les Ballet Africains. From then on the drum has grown in popularity around the world, especially amongst drummers who appreciate its unique sound.

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.

The djembe is often played alongside other instruments such as bells and dundun drums. In Senegal, the djembe is used by the Wolof tribe as part of the elaborate dances that their women perform. When the instrument is being played the women put on an alluring dance called the Saber meant to attract and entice the men.

There are three basic ways to create sound using a djembe. The first technique is where you create a ‘bass’ note by hitting the middle of the drum with your palm. A ‘tone’ is produced when you hit the rim of the drum with flat fingers and a ‘slap’ is the same action but with your fingers relaxed.

Djembes are now made by specialist drum makers all over the world and are sought after by students, tourists, professional musicians and hobbyists alike. Musically it is hard to resist moving to the driving beats of a well-played djembe, and even novices to drumming enjoy the primal energy of handling a djembe.