Djembe Man Drums: About Us

Djembe Man Drums originated in the San Francisco Bay area after I became disappointed with the low quality of many of the drums sold on the web, on eBay and in corporate chain music stores. I noticed that not only were the drums low quality, but copies of djembes made in the Far East were being sold as 'real' quality djembes as were djembes manufactured by corporations from non-organic materials, such as plastic and PVC .

Djembe drums originate in Africa and although not all drums from Africa are great drums, real djembes come from djembe playing countries in west Africa, in particular, Guinea, Mali and Ivory Coast. There is no tradition of djembe music or building of djembes in Indonesia and in fact the phrase 'Indonesian Djembe' is an oxymoron. These drums are 'goblet drums', copies of African djembes made in Indonesia. The drums are not made by hand and are machined on a lathe - they are manufactured drums. There are many types of 'goblet drums', Doumbek, Darbuka, Zarb, Klong Yaw etc. All of these drums are great drums to play, but they are not djembes.

I started sourcing out the best drums I could. I checked every drum I could get my hands on to see how well they were made and what the quality and more important the sound was like. To be sure of my claims that drums I was selling were amongst the best available, I bought and examined different drums - standard African drums, tourist quality African drums sold on eBay and the web, Indonesian copies, plastic djembes, fibre glass and PVC djembes and every type of manufactured and hand made djembe drum available. Non of them came close to the sound of a well made and properly tuned African djembe, made by top notch artisans who are from the djembe playing countries -- this is a fact.

If you search the web for djembes, almost every website claims they have 'Pro Djembes' in fact very few of them do. Some of these people do not play djembe or drums and certainly can not tell a good drum from a bad one, not to mention tuning or repairing a djembe. It takes more than ordering a container of drums from Ghana or Indonesia and setting up a website to be a drum seller with integrity, that respects the traditions and you the potential client.

Initially I was only selling in the San Francisco Bay Area, meeting people in person and letting them check out my drums. I started receiving inquiries and orders from people throughout the USA and decided to start this website to reach out to more people, people who have a passion for drumming and djembes and respect the traditions and the culture where the music and instruments originate.

People know me for my passion and love of Africa, the music, culture and people. I have deep respect for the traditions and I take time to give everyone the best advice I can and to answer all questions to the best of my ability. This is in continuation of the personal service I was giving and still give to people who meet me in person to see and hear my drums.

I am an African, third generation of European ancestry, born and raised in central Africa. I love Africa my Motherland, the people and culture. Being born in Africa and growing up in the bush has made me who I am.

I was born in Zimbabwe and grew up in small town in Zambia on the border with the Congo. The town is situated approximately 5,000 feet (1,520 m) above sea level in densely wooded country and surrounded by rivers, which eventually join the Zambezi river. I watched singing, dancing and the building and playing of drums and Mbira since I was a baby and have played drums all my life.

In African cultures drumming and dancing are part of the celebration of life, its cycles and seasons and is part of the expression of the cultural richness and amazing heritage these cultures have given us.

You don't have to think like me to buy a good drum from me. I guarantee I will never sell you a bad drum, I will never mislead you about the quality, origin or anything else about my drums. It is disrespectful to African culture that has given us these great gifts. This is a way of life for me .. a passion and a love of Africa its culture, people and music.

I am proud to support the excellent artisans who create the drums I sell. They are the descendants of the creators of these incredible instruments and by buying from them I help build cottage industries and create sustainable income.

Please check out my profile on Myspace and say hello or become a friend sfdjembeman CLICK TO VISIT

The hymn below is now the national anthem of South Africa, but it is well known through out Africa. The music for the hymn is the same as the national anthem of Zambia and I learned it as a child

Nkosi Sikeleli Africa - God Bless Africa

God bless Africa
May her glory be lifted high
Hear our petitions
God bless us, Your children

Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo,
Yizwa imithandazo yethu,
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.

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