The Instruments

Often, if you go to a workshop, you’ll see a teacher is having a session on “Djembe dance” or “Kutiro dance.”
The title refers to the drums used to play the rhythms for the dance. Here’s a quick round-up. You must be able to describe these drums:

Djembe – also spelled (Jembe) – a goblet-shaped drum carved from a single piece of wood. The drum head is goat-skin and is attached to the body by laced cord. The drum is played with the hands. Among the Mande, the instrument is linked to the blacksmith caste, but the right to play a djembe is not hereditary. It is not a jali instrument (although there are some exceptions.) That means anyone can play it.

Kutiro drums – These drums are unique to the Mandinka who live in Senegal and Gambia. Scholars believe they were adapted from drums used by the Wolof people, a non-Mande ethnic group also who live in the area. Kutiro drums are played with the stick and hand. Of the trio, the sabaro is the largest and the lead drum. The kutiriba is the medium and the kutirindingo is the smallest. The kutiriba and the kutirindingo play accompaniment.

Dundun/Sangba/Kenkeni These are double-headed, cylindrical drums that accompany the djembe (Although in Mali, the dundun is a solo instrument.) Of the trio, the dundun is the largest, the sangba the medium sized, and the kenkeni is the smallest. Wood or metal can be used for the body of the drum. The head is usually cow-skin. The drum is played with a stick.