I love to play the djembe! Pronounced GEM' - bay, this is a drum that originated in the Western portions of the African continent. The djembe is played with the hands — not with drumsticks. It is a very versatile instrument, and can make a variety of sounds, depending on how one's hand makes contact with the drum head. Basically, the drum is a tree trunk that has been hollowed-out and fitted with a goatskin drum head, attached by strings (which are also for tuning the instrument). Used mostly by tribes in Africa during ceremonies, festivals, and even for communication, the drum can be helpful in unwinding after a hard day at the office, for rituals, for trancework, for healing, and for fun! The djembe pictured at right is one of the ones that have found their way into my home and into my heart! It is the largest djembe that I own, and I have lugged it, although heavy, to several drum circles. It was almost in-tune when I bought it, which is incredible — most drumheads loosen-up in the heat of cargo holds and need major re-tuning before they're playable. This one didn't need so much re-tuning, and was relatively easy to tune, since the upright ropes are so close together! This drum has a wonderful, crisp sound to it! It was made in Ghana, a region in Western Africa where this particular style of drum originated. It is hand-hewn from the trunk of tree, expertly strung by a native craftsman, and even features beautiful hand-carved designs on the pedestal base — the side of the drum which I consider the "front" has a carving of a traditional African tribal mask! Traditionally, drums in Africa are made by men because of all the intense physical labor that is involved. Even if I had not already known that, it is clear to me that this particular drum was made by a man — I can actually detect the heady scents of his sweat and the oils from his hands on the ropes. Although that may sound a bit repulsive to some of you, it reinforces to me that the drum was hand-made, and it adds certain primal and sensuous qualities to the drum. Still, I cannot help but wonder if the man who made it ever wonders about the person who now owns it, and what his reaction would be if he knew a woman were playing it, and smelling his scent as her hands float across the drumhead... Another of my djembes is pictured in the photo on the left, beside the drum that was shown in the above photo. Although smaller, this djembe has a wonderful sound to it, too, and has attended Drum Circles as well! There is something haunting to me about the energies of this drum, but I have yet to figure out exactly what it is that I'm feeling/hearing that is so intriguing. This djembe, being smaller and lighter in weight, is definitely easier for a woman to carry. For a djembe of its size, the bass-tones are startlingly low-pitched and deep, while the tones nearer the rim have an almost faerie-like quality to them. In the area where I live, there are several enthusiasts who gather for Drum Circles in various locations. Click here to read a newspaper article about drumming in an area where I once lived! I have drummed with Buddy Helm — he is cool! "There is a Spirit in the body of the drum carved out of the trunk of a tree; there is a Spirit in the skin of the drum itself. All this, plus the Spirit of the person playing the drum, becomes an irresistible force against any immovable object." - Babatunde Olatunji, introduction to Sule Greg Wilson's The Drummerıs Path