Reflections on djembe practice and its possible paths beyond its original cultural context.
“The African approach to rhythm does not flourish through tempo control, but through the physical sensations produced by movement.” Beginning in the late 1980s, with the arrival of Famoudou Konaté in Germany through the initiative of Paul Engel and Sylvia Krönwald, a new pedagogical approach aimed at Western students began to take shape. The emphasis … Read more
Kakilambe rhythm is a Guinean djembe rhythm built on a 12/8 cycle (a four-beat measure with a ternary subdivision: three pulses per beat, twelve pulses per measure). In this video, I show you a simple arrangement for three djembes. The structure is clear and accessible. You do not need advanced technique to play it. What … Read more
1990s djembe craftsmanship marked the golden age of traditional djembe making. Before the 1990s, djembe craftsmanship followed standards established by African drummers. The shell had to resonate well while remaining light enough not to exhaust the player carrying it. Pre-stretched ropes were introduced by Westerners, a double-edged improvement in my opinion, along with the “step” … Read more