English

A street musician playing a djembe in Mexico City, 2010

Alternative forms

• djembé, jembe, jenbe, djimbe, jimbe, dyinbe

Noun

djembe ‎(plural djembes)

1. (music) A large, skin-covered drum played with the hands, used in West African and some fusion music.
   • 2007, Karin Gaynell Patterson, Expressions of Africa in Los Angeles Public Performance, 1781—1994, page 133,

     There are three principal types of traditional drums in Guinean Sousou culture: the djembe, the dundun, and the tama. The djembe is a single-headed goblet-shaped drum with a relatively high-pitched tone.

   • 2009, Tamara Dean, Composition for Computer Musicians, page 51,

     The djembe is one of the best—known and popular African drums, particular with those in the West who are interested in learning a drumming tradition.

   • 2010, Randy Raine-Reusch, Play the World: The 101 World Instrument Primer, page 91,

     The djembe has become the most recognizable drum from West Africa, with a history that can be traced to the twelfth century Mali Empire and the Mandinka people.

   • 2012, Michi Henning, Djembe Construction: A Comprehensive Guide, page 13,

     Very few djembes are perfectly round. Most are slightly egg- or triangle-shaped. Lack of roundness is not a problem for sound: many such djembes sound excellent.

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