Kangaba big djembé Senegal

Product Description

The Kangaba big djembé Senegal is a handcrafted djembe made from teak wood with a natural goat skin head and nylon string, built in Kangaba, the historic capital of the Mandingo Empire. It delivers a warm, powerful tone shaped by traditional West African craftsmanship. A great choice if you want an authentic, traditionally made djembe rather than a factory copy.

Craftsmanship and materials

Kangaba is located 90 kilometers from Bamako, toward the Guinean border, and every instrument is produced there in the traditional way by some of the region's best blacksmiths. The professional instruments, including this one, are carved from dugura, teak and boumou wood — woods the maker describes as having an incomparable sound found only in this part of West Africa, between Mali and Guinea.

The head is natural goat and/or cow skin. The skins undergo no chemical treatment; they're simply shaved by hand with a razor blade, which preserves their natural character and contributes to the drum's distinctive voice. The strings are prestretched and French-made, specifically designed by Kangaba so the color harmonizes with the wood.

Background

Since 2000, Kangaba has been planting the tree varieties used in its instruments, with the participation of its own artists — a way of securing the materials for future generations of drums.

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Specifications