In the Bambara language, djé is the verb for “gather” and bé translates as “peace.” Bradley Simmons on playing the djembe. Video by Jacob Whatley. The drum’s likely origins date back to the 12th ...

As a ferry with decorative taiko drums on its hull eases into the port of Iojima, a tiny island in southwestern Japan, a ...

One of the best-known African drums is the West African djembe. It is shaped like a large goblet and played with bare hands. The body is carved from a hollowed trunk and is covered in goat skin.

the djembe, as seen through the remarkable life of revered Guinean percussionist Famoudou Konate. From his childhood playing the once-sacred instrument to his globe-trotting days with Les Ballets ...