We’ll coordinate with your schedule to find a time that works best for you.
Create a Djembe for Life!
Choose from our extensive collection of authentic West African djembe shells and learn the craft from our skilled drum maker, Abli.
Get hands-on and connect with the craft of djembe making.
Our drum making sessions are available all year round, at times that work for you.
Creating your own drum is a meaningful process that makes your djembe truly yours, personally customised with all your favourite features.
Join Abli, our master drum maker, for a two-stage process:
3-4 hours on the first day, and 2 hours on a separate day.
We’ll coordinate with your schedule to find a time that works best for you.
When you arrive at our St.Kilda studio, you’ll explore our extensive range of African djembes.
This gives you a chance to see the variety of options available and test a few, helping you identify what you like and don’t like in a djembe.
Next, we move to the warehouse, where you’ll choose from a selection of djembe shells.
Our team will walk you through the options, from entry-level djembes to our premium Master Series hardwood range.
Once you’ve selected your shell, we’ll guide you through the drum-making process, ensuring a truly personalised experience.
In the first session, you’ll dive straight into the drum-making process.
Skin Selection: The skin you choose is crucial for the sound of your drum. We offer a variety of options, including goat, calf, and cow skins.
We’ll begin by soaking the skin in water to make it malleable for skinning.
Shell Preparation: The drum shell will be levelled and the bearing edges sanded if necessary, ensuring a perfect fit for the skin.
Oiling the Shell: Choose the finish for your shell -glossy or matte.
Fabric Selection: We have a wide selection of colourful African fabrics to wrap around the rings.
Rope Colour: Choose from over 10 rope colours to complement your drum.
Ring Wrapping: We wrap the rings and prepare them for the vertical rope work.
Skinning the Drum: We’ll then move on to skinning the drum while the skin is still wet. It will need a few days to dry and settle.
By the end of the day, your drum will be well underway, ready for the next phase!
Once the skin has dried, we’ll crank the drum to get it ready for playing.
You’ll learn the techniques for applying the right tension to the skin, ensuring your drum sounds great.
You’ll also receive a quick debrief on drum care and tuning.
We recommend adding a protective bag or hat to extend the lifespan of your drum’s skin.
Then, take your drum home – ready to play, play, play!
The price of the drum is mainly based on your choice of shell.
Our medium-density shells are sourced from Ghana, while our hardwood shells come from Burkina Faso, Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Mali.
For a breakdown of djembe prices, visit our Djembe section here.
In addition to the drum price, there’s a $100 workshop fee, which goes directly to our drum maker, who will guide you through the entire process.
Please contact us with your preferred date and time for your drum making sessions. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us.
Abli has been building and repairing drums for decades, perfecting his craft along the way.
Originally from Accra, Ghana, a hub of incredible percussion culture, Abli became the go-to expert for replacing drum skins. Now in Australia, he brings his expert skills to repair drums from all corners of the world – there’s no drum he can’t fix!
In addition to his drum-making expertise, Abli is a highly regarded and sought-after performer.
His profound understanding of sound and rhythm gives him an exceptional ability to craft and tune drums, ensuring each one has the perfect tone and resonance.
Known for his meticulous attention to detail, Abli matches the right skin to every drum, ensuring it delivers its best sound for years to come.
We offer a wide selection of materials for your custom djembe.
You can choose from various drum shells sourced from Ghana, Burkina Faso, and other West African countries.
Additionally, we provide a range of skins, including goat, calf, and cow, to suit the sound you desire.
You can also select from over 10 colours of rope and vibrant African fabrics for the finishing touches.
Choosing the right skin and wood for your djembe is crucial to getting the sound you desire.
We’ll guide you through the options based on your personal preferences.
Whether you want a deeper, richer tone or a sharper, higher pitch, our expert drum-maker, Abli, will help you select the perfect skin and shell (from Ghana, Burkina Faso, and other regions) to match the sound you’re looking for.
Absolutely!
Our drum-making workshop allows for complete customisation. You can choose your own combination of shell, skin, fabric, and rope colors, making each drum truly one-of-a-kind. Abli will work with you every step of the way to ensure your djembe reflects your personal style and sound preferences.
Definitely!
Along with djembes, we also offer workshops for making shamanic frame drums and dununs.
If you’re interested in exploring a different kind of drum, or adding another to your collection, we’ll guide you through the process with the same hands-on, personalised experience.
Get in touch with our team for personalised advice. We’re known for our quick replies!
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