Each and every one of these drums is made of the finest materials and personally selected by world renowned Djembe Master Drummer, Lamin Jassey (pictured), who gives each and every one his personal assurance of quality. He has personally tested and played on each of the drums he sells.

Unlike many imitations, these drums are made to give you a lifetime of pleasure with a fantastic sound. Many Djembes on sale these days are merely ornamental and do not give good tonal sound, nor are they built to last.

Beware the false limitations of buying cheaper Djembe imitations which:

1. do not sound good

2. make it much harder to play and sound captivating

3. are made of cheap materials

4. will not last you more than a short period of time

5. you will want (and have) to replace sometime in the near future

6. are sold by people and businesses who do not have your (or the drum makers) best interests at heart

This drum is made to the highest standards, fusing all the best 'ingredients' which include:

1. the ideal Djembe wood, Gambian Mahogany

2. hand tuned with special rope

3. Goats Skin playing surface

4. a lifetime's dedication to handcrafting drums

5. a lot of unbridled, genuine passion and love for making great drums

The finished masterpiece is a beautiful high quality handcrafted drum made using local materials supporting local people and their traditional skills.

You are not only purchasing a truly unique, genuine African Djembe Drum but also helping support sustainable, global fair-trade.

The traditional djembe is a goblet shaped hand drum with an authentic goat skin playing surface affixed with rope runners. African Djembe Drums are hand crafted from a solid piece of hardwood with inner carvings that produce a wide range of tones. Originating in West Africa, the djembe was used as a gathering drum and today is popular worldwide for people of all ages.

Shopping for a djembe drum can seem a bit overwhelming especially if you're new to the market or not sure what questions to ask. There are many djembe drums in the marketplace all vying for your attention. However, the unique differences in each djembe can make a big difference in playability, sound and overall enjoyment.

This is why master Drummer Lamin Jassey, who you will be buying this from, has carefully handpicked each and every Djembe that he sells, ensuring it meets his exceptionally high personal standards.

Please Note:
Traditional wooden shell djembe drums are hand carved and thus are not aesthetically perfect. It's important not to concern yourself too much with slight imperfections such as an uneven bowl, or a wobbly base. Again, it's a result of them being hand carved. Although most djembe drums are made overseas there are unique differences that separate them. Many people have been fooled that a nice looking djembe drum equals a good sounding drum. This is far from true. Ask ANYONE who knows about Djembes.

The fact is that the majority of the 'perfect' looking drums are mass-produced by machine and retain very little character or genuinely good sound.

EVERY Drum here is pain-stakingly hand-crafted by master Drum builders in The Gambia. This is why after years of searching West Africa, Lamin will only supply drums from his carefully chosen sources.

One of the big differences between these djembes is the type of material used. These traditional Djembe Shells are carved of a solid piece of mahogany wood. This ensures they will have a warmer and fuller sound than djembes made of fiberglass or PVC.

The cheap fibreglass and pvc djembes are in all reality exactly that: cheap. They may be less expensive but they tend to produce a thinner and twangy sound.

There is no doubt about it, when you hear a real African Mahogany Djembe (such as this here) next to a manufactured fibreglass or pvc imitation you will not even consider the latter: the depth, warmth and fuller sound of wooden djembes is unmistakable. Not only this but they instantly make you sound like a much more proficient drummer. True!

Another difference is the type of drumhead used. There are essentially two types of djembe drumheads. The first type is the more traditionally based animal skinhead. Typical animal skins include goatskin and cow skin. Djembe drums that use real animal skin also assist in producing a warmer and fuller tone. The second type of drumhead is a synthetic head that was created to produce the tones of skin-based heads. Synthetic heads tend to sound exactly as you'd expect: synthetic!

The third major difference is the type of tuning system employed. Traditional based djembe drums are tuned using a rope system. The idea is to tighten the drumhead, when it becomes flat, by pulling the rope tighter around the head. The process of tightening with ropes is called pulling a diamond because when one rope is pulled over another it creates a diamond or these triangle shapes. The other type of tuning system is a bolt tunes system. A bolt-tuned system uses a metal rim and metal hooks that go around the djembe drumhead. This type of system is non-traditional and is a bit of an eyesore.

When you're a beginner, it's hard to tell if your djembe is in tune. As your technique improves, so will your ear. Your ability to tune a djembe will improve as you gain more experience. The goal of tuning is to get the drumhead to a level of tension where slaps, open tones, and bass strokes all sound good. It's important to understand that a properly tuned djembe creates a skin that is very tight. A lot of tension is needed in order to pitch the drum up correctly. Aside from this, tuning is a matter of personal taste.

One of the biggest mistakes one could make when purchasing a new djembe is buying the most inexpensive one. THIS IS A TOTAL FALSE ECONONMY.

Djembe drums are musical instruments and like all musical instruments are detailed pieces of art. They cost money to make. Better materials mean higher costs. And better materials and construction generally lead to instruments that not only sound better but also are easier to play.

Also, you want to purchase a djembe that the player can grow into as their skills increase. The beginning djembe player will have an easier time learning when playing a well-made djembe. The drum will sound better and make for a more enjoyable time during the learning process.

If possible, the beginning djembe player should seek out some one-on-one training with an instructor. This site is dedicated to just that: providing the best teaching in the world, from a genuine authentic African Master Drummer and making his lessons available to all. There really is no substitute for having someone, in person, teach the new player the foundation of proper technique.

Having toured the world as a master drummer and highly in demand teacher, Lamin has made his lifetime of teaching and exerience available for the very first time. He will teach you how to play the djembe professionally within minutes (not weeks, months and years) and you can watch your lessons as many times as you want, when you want, in the privacy of your own home (simply click on the rhythm to the right that you want to learn).

For less than the price of sitting in on one drum circle session you will have one on one master tuition on your chosen rhythms, for a lifetime.

We offer a full 30 day money back guarantee on all Djembes sold: we have never had a returned Djembe. You will know, the moment you hear it and feel it that it is built to the highest professional standard.

IF for any reason your Djembe is returned, you will be liable for return postage costs and the Djembe must be returned as new. Your Supplier, Lamin Jassey is a true master drummer:

1. He has taught the Djembe drum to 1000's of people around the world for years.

2. He's made numerous TV appearances, worked with the World Renowned BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation), travelled the world with bands, and continues to follow his passion and work with both community & school groups.

3. He provides a global audience with the 'easiest way to learn the Djembe Drum' through his one on one tuition videos through his world respected 'www.djembedrumminglessons.com' website.

4. His professional drumming contacts in Gambia hand make every single one of these drums.

5. Each one is carefully selected and chosed by Lamin. He guarantees each with his own integrity and approval.

6. Lamin offers a full 30 day money back guarantee

Thank you for your time in interest. Please ask any questions you may have.

We wish you many happy years playing your Djembe.