"Djembe drumming can be many things; fun, energising, brain and muscle exercise, meditative, challenging - the list goes on. The best thing I know (well almost!) is to get together with a group of kindred drummers and weave together the multi-part rhythms that originate, typically, from West Africa.
Even better is when there are dancers and percussion players as this is what the drumming is all about.
The traditional Djembe is a goblet shaped drum played simply with the hands. It has a shell, made from a single piece of hardwood tree, covered with goat skin and tensioned with rope. The sounds produced range from a deep resonant bass to a high sharp "slap".
All the rhythms have a purpose. They can be for welcoming visitors; for initiation into adulthood; births, marriages and deaths; harvest time, and so on.
Many rhythms have specific dances that go with them, all of which have been passed from generation to generation.
To hear a skilled djembefola, "the one who makes the djembe speak", is a tremendous experience. The skill is to be able to have both dominant and weak hands working equally well. Easier said than done for most of us!
If you are interested in joining us, whatever your experience, please call Roger on 01686 420427 or Andy on 01686 411139. We play most Fridays near Newtown."
Article by Roger Bradley
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jenny
I was interested to see your comments about djembe drumming. My husband is a djembe player from Senegal West Africa and teaches drumming all over the country. We are based in the Forest of Dean, bordering Wales if anyone is interested in setting up classes in your area.Contact us through this website.
Sun Apr 5 13:05:06 2009
Chris, Arbroath
I love the djembe drums, and was interested to read this article. I had seen the tern djembefola, but didn't know what it meant. :)I have been learning djembe from videos on youtube...
Sun Feb 15 21:37:16 2009
Hannah from Aberdeen
Djembe is the most exciting, exhilerating hobby you can ever try your hand at! It's fun and enjoyable and you meet the most fantastic people in the circle and at gigs. Hearing a group of ten or more djembe players play is an experience like no other, and if there happens to be a djembefola there you have no idea how lucky you are!
Fri Dec 14 12:25:57 2007
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