The djembe originated in Africa, but it has experienced wide appropriation in the United States among fans of world music.
Tribal music is deeply ingrained in African tradition. From dance and costuming to singing and building instruments, music is an important aspect of the rich culture in Africa. Though the most quintessential instrument associated with traditional African music are percussion instruments and drums, African music also encompasses a wide variety of melodic devices that can reflect European and American sounds as well.
Djembe
A djembe, also commonly spelled as "jembe", is a drum made out of a single piece of wood with animal hide stretched across a hole in the top. There are two types of musical performance that focus on the djembe. One is called "ballet-style" and it involves concert performances by regionally known musicians who travel around playing traditional African music. The other type of djembe performance is known as "village-style." This type of playing can last for hours at a time, with the player focusing on only a few variations in rhythm.
Kalimba
Often referred to in the United States as "thumb pianos" or a "mbira", the kalimba is made from a hollow box with tightly situated metal rods sticking out. When these metal rods are struck with a player's thumbs, they ring out. The pitch of each rod varies based on how far it extends from the box, and its tone reflects the amount of space carved out from inside the body of the instrument.
Udu
An udu is another type of drum. Typically made out of clay, these percussion instruments have different pitches based on the size, how much hollow space is inside of them, and the method that the player uses to strike the drum with his or her hand. Udu originally come from Nigeria and are shaped like vessels used to carry water.
