Lea Duckitt
The One Who Gives The Djembe Voice
djembefola –
(African term) Directly translated a djembefola is "one who gives the djembe voice". A djembefola is a djembe player. Generally someone would be fairly competent with a djembe before they are referred to as a djembefola.
The djembe is a goblet-shaped, West-African hand drum from 11” to 14” in diameter and about 24” in height. Technically, it belongs to the family of percussion instruments known as membranophones, because it consists of a shell covered by a membrane of rawhide, usually derived from goat or cow.
Ideally, the shell is hand-carved from a single piece of hardwood that results in a Helmholtz resonator, giving it a deep-throated bass. Prior to the twentieth century, the membrane was attached to the shell with sinew, intestine or a strip of rawhide. Nowadays, stretch-resistant nylon and/or polyester rope has become the norm.
Wood density, carving patterns, skin characteristics and the general shape and proportions of the shell combine to give the African djembe a versatile voice.
The One Who Gives The Djembe Voice
djembefola –
(African term) Directly translated a djembefola is "one who gives the djembe voice". A djembefola is a djembe player. Generally someone would be fairly competent with a djembe before they are referred to as a djembefola.
The djembe is a goblet-shaped, West-African hand drum from 11” to 14” in diameter and about 24” in height. Technically, it belongs to the family of percussion instruments known as membranophones, because it consists of a shell covered by a membrane of rawhide, usually derived from goat or cow.
Ideally, the shell is hand-carved from a single piece of hardwood that results in a Helmholtz resonator, giving it a deep-throated bass. Prior to the twentieth century, the membrane was attached to the shell with sinew, intestine or a strip of rawhide. Nowadays, stretch-resistant nylon and/or polyester rope has become the norm.
Wood density, carving patterns, skin characteristics and the general shape and proportions of the shell combine to give the African djembe a versatile voice.