djembe kan ?

[wonderwebb]

What does djembe kan mean i keep seeing it and was wondering whether it is a set rythm or does it have another meaning?

thanks in advance

[Michel]

For what I have learned of the malinke/bamana language kan is used as 'language' or 'how to speak'. For example 'bamanankan' is the bamana language, or how to speak bamana. So a djembe kan is a proof of letting the djembe speak. And that is done by a 'djembefola', he who lets the djembe talk.

[bubudi]

'kan' means sound, voice, or language in malinke, bambara and jula. so djembekan means literally 'the sound of the djembe'. a common usage of this phrase in malinke is to refer to a solo, usually done acappella, where all the sounds of the djembe can be distinguished (as well as showing the djembefola's skill). when you read djembekan on this forum, that's what it means.