Spirit of the Djembe
Because Bongos are like, sooo last week
Melissa Hiebert Staff
Most often found around our city’s Fringe and Folk festivals or sitting in a circle in the park on warm summer days, Djembe drum players often lure unsuspecting passers-by with their perfectly and naturally synchronized beating. In recent years, the Djembe drum has become increasingly popular, as many potential drummers continue to fall victim to the incredible instrument, lulled into a trance by its hypnotic rhythm or infatuated by the invigorating sensation that one experiences when playing it.
René Vermette, who has been playing the Djembe for four years, was introduced to the instrument at Folk Fest. “A lot of drumming takes place there and I couldn’t get enough of it,” she exclaimed. “I got my first Djembe shortly thereafter and have been learning how to play ever since.”
Many drummers are introduced to the instrument by similar means, by watching and listening to others play. While some start out by learning rhythms and techniques from more experienced players, others take classes or get music from the Internet.
The Djembe drum (pronounced JEM-bay) is shaped like a wine goblet, and the head of the drum has a diametre of about a foot. Hitting the drum in the centre will produce a low bass tone, while hitting the drum on the side makes a higher sound. There is a series of ropes around the outside of the drum, and they can be tightened or loosened in order to tune the drum. Traditionally, the drums were made from a hollowed-out tree, with a drumhead of animal skin.
Djembe drums were introduced into the Western world in the ’50s, when the ballet Les Ballets Africains, a group of African musicians and dancers, toured much of the world. The drum did not gain real popularity until the ’80s, however, and between these years the instrument was only well known to African music and dance aficionados.
With a cultural history dating back to around the 12th or 13th century in Western Africa, the drums were often played at ceremonies or rituals, including weddings and various festivals. Often, there were no spectators in these festivals, and everyone took part by singing along, dancing or playing other accompanying instruments.
The Djembe drum is traditionally described as having three different spirits associated with it: the spirit of the tree from which it was made, the spirit of the animal used to make the drumhead and the spirit of the drummer.
The traditional spirit of the Djembe can even be found in our society today. When I went to go pick out my drum, the store clerk advised me that I must not buy a drum until I found one that absolutely spoke to me. “You might not find it here today,” he explained. “But when you find the right one, you’ll know.”
Djembe drums have definitely captured the hearts of many in the Western world over the last two decades, and it’s not hard to see why. René explains that she loves to drum because, “there’s nothing else like it. The energy that comes from not only playing but even just from watching an intense drum session is like nothing I’ve experienced before. Throw in a star-filled night sky, a roaring fire, some people dancing and the great outdoors, and you’ve got yourself all the makings of a kick-ass good time!”
René’s sentiments are mirrored by Djembe players around the world. Perhaps it’s because there is just something culturally significant about playing a hand drum, one of the most basic and primal instruments used by many different cultures for thousands of years. Or maybe it’s because the Djembe drum does not discriminate; anyone is welcome to take part. Either that, or people just love to hit things.
