Ever seen a Mali Djembe like this?

[Mr B]

Hey guys

Have any of you seen a Mali Djembe like this:

[img]mali.jpg[/img]

The guy says it's from Mali. I haven't seen it in person yet. It has the shape but I was wondering if any of you have seen the carvings before on a Mali shell that would authenticate it.

Any idea what wood it is?

Thanks

[michi]

I've never seen this style of carving on a Mali shell. It is possible that this is one of the tourist djembes sold in the Bamako markets though. I remember seeing a few there that were more elaborately carved (but I don't recall any designs like this one).

It's difficult to be sure about the wood due to the lack of detail. It could be Goni (Hare), or possibly Iroko (assuming that the shell hasn't been stained).

If this is indeed a Mali shell, it's certainly not a typical one.

Cheers,

Michi.

[freefeet]

It looks like the bearing edge has broke along the front!

[Mr B]

Thanks guys. I went to go see the drum and he didn't have the one in the picture and the rest of his "Mali" drums were tourist drums from Ghana

[bubudi]

i was going to say ghana right from the word go.

[bops]

That could be a Mali drum... the skinning technique looks typical of the Malian style. The hoops fit tightly around the rim, which is typical of Mali drums (but not Ghanaian), the skin is trimmed above the hoops, the rebar is wrapped in red fabric, and the verticals are properly spaced.

I can't comment on the carving or wood though, the picture isn't clear enough.

[michi]

I had Ghana on my mind too when I first looked at it. I agree with Bops though—there are elements that say "not Ghana". The bowl shape is another indicator: most Ghanaian drums I've seen have a more slender bowl with less pronounced curvature towards the stem.

Cheers,

Michi.

[bubudi]

yes, it's not the usual ghana shape or lacing, but looks like stained/painted wood with touristy carving and weird stem which screams ghana, and the lacing could have been redone after the original skin popped. most ghanaian drums i've seen also have the skin trimmed above the top ring like the malian style, so if this drum had 50+ verticals i reckon we'd all be hollering 'ghana' in unison!