Real hand-crafted Djembes

Making a traditionally crafted djembe can be a complicated process. Not only does one have to contend with using quality materials, there's a real spiritual aspect to drum making too. The wood is considered a gift from the Ancestors and Gods and the goat that contributes their skin to make the head has a "voice" in the production.


A djembe made in the traditional style will be carved from a piece of a hardwood tree. The artist hollows out the wood, using a single piece for the entire drum body. A djembe made in West Africa will typically be made from dimba, lenge, hare, bois rouge or acajou wood.

Pagan Sounds also carries mahogany djembes that are made in California, by skilled craftspeople for creation, and the wood is ethically harvested. These follow the same painstaking process.

At Pagan Sounds we feature drums of all sizes.The size of the drum and the drum head will affect the pitch of your djembe. Larger drums can typically achieve deeper, more resonant tones. Our medium drums tend to have great balance - deep bass tones, solid slap tones in the middle and great echoes on the high slaps.