A little history…
Original to West Africa, the djembe is said to have appeared in the 13th century within the Mandingo Empire. Originally, it was used as ameans of communication. It announced important life events such as births, weddings, mourning, harvest festivals and initiation ceremonies. Accompanied by other instruments, it punctuated traditional songs and dances during these celebrations.
In the 1950s, the djembe began to be exported to Europe thanks to the African ballets created under the impetus of Guinean poet and choreographer Fodéba Keïta.
In the 1980s, great players called djembefola (Mamady Keïta, Amadou Kiénou or even Famoudou Konaté) participate in the worldwide diffusion of this practice by creating learning centers in Europe, the United States and Japan.
The register of the djembe expands from the 2000s to accompany modern music as for the song I’m Yours by Jason Mraz.
Evolution of the instrument
At its beginnings, the djembe was mounted with small pieces of wood stuck directly into the drum. The skin was attached in 5 or 6 places and stretched several times while pushing the wedges in. This assembly was very fragile and the tension, relatively weak, let air pass in the resonance box. Today, this assembly has almost disappeared.
About 1977, a French musician, inspired by the congas assembly, developed a new system allowing not to touch the sounding board: the skin is now fixed with three iron straps and strings. As the tension is much greater, the sound has become more acute.
In the 1990s, we encounter another evolution with the industrial drums, made of synthetic material.
Particularity
The word djembe means “drum” in Bambara, the main language of the Malian communities.
