Djembe

I bought this Djembe in France a while back and think it was probably made in Mali, in Africa. In the language of the Bamana people, the words 'dje' and 'be' mean gather and peace, so this most likely describes the drum's use - to gather the people in peace.

The way the ropes are twisted down the side of the wood is called the 'Mali weave', this is used to tension the skin, which is usually the shaved hide of a cow, antelope, deer or a zebra.

The goblet shape of the drum and the properties of the wood and skin essentially turn the Djembe into a Helmholtz Resonator, which is something that can be found in a wide range of instruments from an acoustic guitar to an ocarina. Anyone really dedicated and that interested can find out more about Helmholtz resonances here. (It's Ok, it's not compulsory!)