Skin / Body
Putting on a new skin
If you play regularly on a properly tuned djembe, eventually the skin will crack. Even if it doesn't crack, I've noticed that the skin gets 'tired' and the sound just isn't like it was before. Anyway, sooner or later you have to mount a new skin.
You can have somebody else put the skin on for you, which might give you a better result than when you do it yourself for the first time. However, since it is something which has to be done regularly, it is worth the effort to learn how to do it yourself. And it gives a certain satisfaction as well, not to say a 'girl-power effect' for us ladies :-)
There's a lot of excellent info already available on re-skinning a djembe. For an elaborate description try the following sites :
And you can find pictures of the whole process on Djembe Boom Boom.
Note : These links will take you directly to the correct page (in a new window). Don't forget to check out the complete sites though!
I just want to add a few personal notes. The pictures show my djembe teacher Seny Touré in action, in Bouillon summer 2000.
the skin : The skin has to be wet before you shave it and mount it on the djembe. When I ask djembe-builders how long the skin should soak, the answer varies between an hour and 2 days.
Before shaving the skin, you can soften it by dancing on it (see the picture on the right). Then, when you have shaved it, it is just like "wash-leather". I haven't tried this myself though (I don't know the dance ;-)).
shaving : A professional does it like in the picture on the left : with a normal razor, with one hand, with quick strokes, removing all the hair and the dirt in a couple of minutes. I have tried this, but it just doesn't work for me. Since I like 'bald' skins, I shave the skin with a razor while it is on the table. In this case when I mess up, at least I don't have to redo the ropes. Since this takes me far too long, next time I'll follow a tip from a friend : hang the skin on a washing line and shave it while stretching it with the other hand.
tightening : As you can see on the "tuning"-pictures, my djembes always have a lot of "diamonds" before they are tuned OK. This is because I don't have enough strength to tighten the verticals. You can use a small pulling tool to avoid rope burns on your hands, sold e.g. in boat shops, or even better, use some kind of lever. You can weld a metal one like in the drawing, or use a broad wooden stick.
Making a Djembe Body
On the A.A.T.M.I.-site you find an overview of the 11 steps in producing a djembe, as well as some info on the different shapes of djembe shells.
The Kangaba site contains very nice pictures and video's on making djembes.
And there's a guy in Princeton who tried to make one himself and (almost) succeeded ;-)