Djembes
Music 7/8
Where and When?
 Though
not proven, it is said
that it came from Mali, West
Africa in the 12th century.
"Anke dje, anke be"

“Calling people together”

“everyone gather together”

Dje= gather

Be=everyone

“It is taught that the blacksmiths made the first
djembes,

The person would cut it down and the
blacksmith would make each drum custom-fit
to the drummer who would play it.”

Traditionally, only those born into the djembe
family would be allowed (or interested) to
play.

http://www.drumconnection.com/africaconnections/history-of-the-djembe/
3 Spirits

spirit of the tree

the spirit of the animal whose skin is played

the spirit of the carver or the one who cut the tree and the
people who assemble the drum.
Rituals

In performances, the djembe begins the ritual,
followed by the singer and the other instruments.
Brainstorm in groups, events
throughout the year in which we
celebrate and there is music:
Popularity

It is only until as recently as the 1950’s, that the
djembe has been know in other countries.

European countries found the djembe before North
America and it became more popular there. Now,
Japan and China have risen to a country that has had
a recent upswing in interest in djembe and traditional
dance!
Hand Percussion
Instruments: Krin

A krin is made from a hollowed tree trunk and is
played with two wooden sticks. They can be as large
as 10 feet. Depending on where is it played,( sides or
on the top at different lengths) it makes different
sounds. It originated in Guinea and they believe it
has sacred properties. It is traditonally used to send
coded messages between villages.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0nRhyLVQu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZIgy
Axatse ? Gourd Rattles
ɑː.hɑː.tseɪˌ/(a- hot-say)/ (SHEH-kuh-ray)
This shaker is an instrument of the Ewe
people, from Ghana. These gourds are
hollowed out, dried out seeds are then
weaved into the netting. It is played like a
maraca, by gently tugging on the blue rope
ends, by swirling or twisting the seed net, or
with more intricate double handed
techniques.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdjmw
Ud4Sb0
Sources

Boston’s Djembe Drumming Community and Shop,
October 20th, 2015,
http://www.drumconnection.com/africaconnections/history-of-the-djembe/

Krin: Homemade Musical Instruments, January 30th,
2016, http://www.alpharhythmroots.com/Krin.html