Ghanaian Djembes

Our Ghanaian djembes are hand carved in Ghana by skilled drummers and headed with thick, unbleached goat skin under traditional rope tuning. Each shell is turned from Tweneboa, a fast-growing African cedar sourced responsibly through the Forestry Commission of Ghana, then strung and tuned by hand.

Djembes are measured by the diameter of the drum head: larger heads give deeper bass and more volume, while smaller heads are lighter and easier for younger players or for travel. Whether you are buying your first drum or adding a professional double-string model to your kit, every djembe here is Fair Trade and built to be played.

Choosing your djembe size

Djembes are typically measured by the diameter of the drum head. A larger head gives deeper bass and more volume; a smaller head is lighter and easier to transport.

Small (7" - 9")

Lighter and easy to handle, with a brighter, higher-pitched voice. Ideal for beginners, smaller hands and travelling drummers.

Medium (10.5" - 11")

The versatile all-rounder. A full range of bass, tone and slap, and the popular choice for a first serious drum. Our top quality professional model sits here.

Large (13" - 14")

Deep, powerful bass and maximum volume. Best for experienced players and performance. Heavier to carry but impactful to play!

FAIR TRADE DRUMS

Made in Ghana, by drummers

Every African Musical Instruments djembe is carved and skinned by hand in Ghana by skilled drummers who play the instruments they make. The shells are turned from Tweneboa, a fast-growing African cedar sourced responsibly through the Forestry Commission of Ghana, then headed with thick, unbleached goat skin under traditional rope tuning. Bought on Fair Trade terms, each drum supports its maker and keeps a living craft alive.

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Djembe FAQs

Djembes are measured by the diameter of the drum head. A larger head gives deeper bass and more volume; a smaller head is lighter and easier for younger players or for travel. For a first adult drum, an 11" head is a popular all-rounder. If you are buying for a child, look to the smaller heads.

Ghanaian djembes use a rope tuning system. Pulling the vertical ropes into diamonds increases the skin tension and raises the pitch. Our professional models use double-string tuning, which gives finer control and lets you reach higher tension for a crisper slap.

The goat skin head and wooden shell are natural materials. Keep the drum away from direct heat, radiators and prolonged damp, and play it with bare hands rather than sticks. Wipe the shell with a dry or barely damp cloth. In very dry conditions a little natural oil on the wood helps prevent cracking.

Every drum is handmade in Ghana by skilled drummers and bought on Fair Trade terms, so the makers are paid fairly for their craft. The wood is sourced through the Forestry Commission of Ghana from fast-growing managed stock.

Each djembe is carved and skinned individually from natural materials, so wood grain, colour and skin markings vary from piece to piece. Yours will be unique and may differ slightly from the photo shown.

We offer free UK postage on orders over £35 so all our drums are sent free of charge. We use Royal Mail for our smaller items and DPD for our larger drums.

Fair Trade

Bought on Fair Trade terms, direct from the makers in Ghana.

Handmade by drummers

Every drum carved and skinned by hand by skilled Ghanaian craftsmen.

Free UK postage

Free UK delivery on orders over £35.

Ghanaian Djembes

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Professional Large Ghanaian Djembe (11" Head)

Large Fabric Covered Ghanaian Djembe (11" Head)

Giant Ghanaian Djembe (14" Head)

Small Ghanaian Djembe (7" Head)

Large Ghanaian Djembe (10.5" Head)

Extra Large Ghanaian Djembe (13" Head)

Medium Ghanaian Djembe (9" Head)