Picking the Djembe that is Perfect for You

For many world music fans, the djembe drum represents Africa and all its musical delights. Djembe fans and drummers can be found around the world and the instrument itself is no longer confined to being manufactured in the Motherland. These days, many of the djembes found in stores, festivals, and internet sites were made in places like Bali, Thailand, or Mexico. What this means is that a prospective drummer has to be very careful during djembe selection. When choosing a djembe, it’s important to know some basic information about djembe construction so you don’t become discouraged or hurt due to quality issues. All djembes are not created equal and even djembes that meet the criteria with regard to looks are not necessarily ideal for drumming. Just as it takes skill to drum well on your djembe, it will take some skill to choose the right instrument.

The first qualities to inspect when researching djembe drums will have to do with construction. For first time buyers, it is important to purchase from an actual merchant so that you can try the drum before you take it home. This is good advice, in general, but drummers with more experience in selecting a djembe may be able to buy online more easily simply because they know which companies carry high quality drums and which do not. Once you have tapped on the drums available and found one or two to your liking, it is time to closely inspect the djembe. While small cracks may be filled in and not present a problem, make sure the drum does not have large or multiple filled cracks since those will affect both the sound and life of the drum. Look inside the drum’s shell. A djembe with a smooth interior is not a good investment, as the spiral groove pattern that is traditional for the inside of a djembe helps create the desired sound.



Djembe shopping should be an enjoyable experience that involves all of the senses. Make sure the head is free of holes tears, allowing for some characteristic coloring due to the natural skin used. The beginner djembefola may prefer a thinner hide since it will be easier to drum, but make sure the hide is not thin due to being low quality. Different countries of origin tend to use certain hides for their djembe heads, so ask from where the skin came. Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, and Guinea are known for their quality hides. Let your djembe show your inner style with subtle carvings or bright ropes and decorations. You will want to enjoy looking at your djembe, so if it comes down to two or more comparable drums and one has decorations that you enjoy, go with the bling - or not!. Picking your perfect djembe means that the eyes, as well as the ears and hands, get to feast, and you may even find that your djembe drum picks you.

Austin TX Community Drum Circle with Kenya Masala

X8 DRUMS, SWAN PERCUSSION and VORTEX Repertory Company invite you to the "Austin Community Drum Circle."

There is nothing quite like a drum circle to make you feel as though you are part of the world around you. If you've never experienced the power of drumming with others, now is your chance to join the X8 Drums community. X8 Drums, Swan Percussion and VORTEX Repertory Company proudly invite you to the "Austin Community Drum Circle."

Facilitated by Kenya Masala. Kenya is a nationally-recognized X8 Drums endorsed drum circle facilitator and team building consultant. As director of X8 Interactive Drumming, Kenya's high energy interactive performances and programs have inspired audiences coast to coast.

Muniz Takes on New Role as Drummer

Malcolm is still in the middle, but now he’s a drummer. Frankie Muniz, the actor who played Malcolm in the popular television show “Malcolm in the Middle” has become the drummer for a band called Kingsfoil. The band has finally made it across the pond and is performing shows in the United Kingdom. The Nottingham Post reports that the band is popular among American teens, so it’s a big deal that they are gaining international appeal. The former child actor says he has enjoyed his opportunities through the years and feels that behind a drum kit is exactly where he belongs. Read more here: Malcolm In The... band - US TV star to play city bar

Kids Love Drumming!

You may be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't like drumming. Sure, there are people out there who don't like certain genres of music and those genres may be what pop into their heads if you ask them what they think about drumming, but all you have to do is put a drum out where people can touch it to see that drums are difficult to resist. Maybe even impossible. Due to this seemingly preternatural human response to the drum, it makes perfect sense that kids love drumming. The issue is that, sometimes, adults don't always love that kids love drumming.

88 Years and Still a Drumming Legend

Roy Haynes is famous worldwide as a phenomenal jazz drummer who can still fill a room. At age eighty-eight, Mr. Haynes has definitely drummed with more greats than some of us have even heard of. His most recent band is called The Fountain of Youth and to watch them perform is like downing a heavy dose of that famous elixir. A review of a recent performance in Jazzwise Magazine gives those of us interested in how Mr. Haynes is holding up a glimpse into a magical night that included drumming solos, body drumming, and tap dancing. Surely, Mr. Haynes still has far to go. Read more here: azz breaking news: Roy Haynes taps into the Fountain of Youth at Ronnie Scott’s 

A Profitable Love of Handmade Drums

A man in Potsdam, New York, has made a name for himself and put his drums on the map. Tim Damon began his drum-making business five years ago and is finally being noticed by some big names in the business. He used to make custom fishing rods, but decided to turn his love for drumming into a career. His hobby of making drums by hand from local wood sources has became a full-time job and he loves going to work every day. Jason Sutter, a drummer currently on tour with Marilyn Manson, is one of the customers of these unique drums. Read more here: Potsdam Man Marches To Beat Of Drums He Creates

Encouraging Female Drummers is Just the Beginning for Sheila E

Sheila E recently helped celebrate Chuck Brown as part of a tribute concert. The world-famous drummer told the Washington Post that she had planned to become an Olympic runner, but performing with her father at age fifteen changed her goals. Sheila has been a professional drummer for forty years, now, and uses her position to encourage other female percussionists. She has the Elevate Hope Foundation to help kids heal their pain from being abused and uses any platform she can to be approachable to fans. The drummer is working on a new album and her autobiography will be out soon. Read more here: Sheila E., an inspiration to drummers of all ages and genders

Beware of Mr. Baker!

A documentary about drumming legend Ginger Baker paints a picture of a man who was good on the drums but not so good in his personal relationships. “Beware of Mr. Baker” surprises people who thought that the drummer wouldn’t make it past the 1980s. A twenty year heroin addiction may be the reason for his horrible personality, but it’s just as likely that he’s simply not a nice guy. A review of the film on independent. ie says that the drummer has worked with many wonderful musicians over the years, but unsurprisingly, no band he was in lasted very long. Read more here: Cream of the crop of the drummers

No Drumming Love for Bulgarian Duo

Drumming still has a place in Europe, but maybe not this year. Elitsa and Stoyan Yankulov-Stundzhi, a drumming duo from Bulgaria, attempted to earn a spot in the Eurovision finals, again, but didn’t make it. The duo placed fifth in 2007 by performing its song, “Water”. This year, the drumming duo hoped to make it by performing “Only Champions”, but failed to impress the judges. According to novinite.com, many Bulgarian people consider the contest a sloppy, back-scratching political event, making it unlikely that the duo faces any love lost in their own country. Eurovision finals air on Saturday, May 18th. Read more here: Bulgarian Drumming Duo Fails to Make Eurovision Finals