A djembe is a goblet-shaped hand drum that originated among the Manding people of West Africa. Djembes, because of their shape, are capable of producing a range of tones and sounds. Generally, djembes are made of wood, with an animal skin stretched over the top. Djembes are extremely popular in the drum-circle culture of North America and Europe.

The majority of our djembe drums is made in Ghana and a few from the Ivory Coast.

A djembe is a goblet-shaped hand drum that originated among the Manding people of West Africa. Djembes, because of their shape, are capable of producing a range of tones and sounds. Generally, djembes are made of wood, with an animal skin stretched over the top. Djembes are extremely popular in the drum-circle culture of North America and Europe.

The majority of our djembe drums is made in Ghana and a few from the Ivory Coast.

The cow bell is an integral part of any African drumming ensemble. It produces a load and distictive sound. Measures around 12 inches.

Buys includes a wood stick for striking the bell.

Ankle dancing rattles are made from a coccon of particular moth species which attaches itself to a tree. After harvesting they are filled with small pebbles and sewn to a piece of isikhumba hide. Tied to ankles and wrists, they are used by sangoma diviners and their initiates when dancing to drumming, song and clapping. During these performances participants attain a state of trance which enables them to divine lost possessions, missing relatives, livestock, and herbs for healing various ailments.

Large drum used originally for large ensemble isiBhaca or isiKhuze style dancing. Formation dances were a spectacular aspect of mine and other urban industrial performance culture of African migrant workers. A staple of foreign tourism since the 1920s, performances took place in purpose-built stadiums, with traditionally-adorned troupes – up to 80 and above for the largest teams. The garments, drums, shields and various regalia were normally sponsored by the patron employer. The drum is made out of a used oil-drum, isikhumba ox-hide and sewn up with uqhotho thong. Before a dance, the drums are placed in sunshine, whereby they become tautly stretched and thus sharp in response. They are normally played in ensemble with other drums of the same size to accompany rhythmic choral call-and-response dance songs, with a chorus of singers who also clap hands and/or flat, hand-sized pieces of wood or timber.

The mbira is a traditional instrument of the Shona people of Zimbabwe. It's history dates back more than a thousand years. The music is an extension of the culture, folklore, wisdom and spirituality of the Shona people. The instrument consist of a wooden board which staggered metal keys have been attached. It is often fitted into a deze that functions as a resonator. Mbira is usually classified as part of the lamellophone family of musical instruments.

Read more about the mbira at wikipedia.org.

Our xylophones are made by the Tsopi people from Mozambique.