- The finished shells (invariably hand made from one piece of wood) are
purchased from various drum carvers in Conakry. These craftsmen are
exceptionally skilled and dedicated solely to the making of each wooden
shell, often with different people performing each part of the process.
- The wood is then stored in Conakry for a minimum of 6 months. Wood
(especially when freshly cut) is extremely sensitive to air moisture and
fluctuations in temperature, and initial storage allows it to adapt slowly
to the environment. This will help prevent cracks developing.
- At the start of the dry season in Conakry, the wood is sanded and then
oiled with Shea butter (Malinke: Toulougbe) which further hinders the
possibility of cracks forming and also adds to the aesthetic quality of the
djembe.
- The metal rings are cut and formed into circles, welded, and wrapped in
material. After this we make the knots on the rings.
- When the rings are finished and checked to ensure that they will fit
satisfactorily to the wood, the edges at the top and bottom of the djembes
are rounded with spokeshaves and rasps to exactly accommodate the size
of the rings.
- Rope is fed through the knots, leaving about 5 or 6 free for inserting the
ring with the skin.
- The (wet and already shaved) skin is placed on the last ring, with the spine centred. The skin is "sewed" on to the ring to create a little tension and keep it in place.
It is then placed on the wood, the rope fed through the rest of the knots
around the first two rings, and the tightening process starts.
- The skin is then left to dry for 2-3 days, after which the final tightening
is done.
- When the tension is completed, the excess skin is removed, and the skin
surface is smoothly shaved. The djembe is tested for sound quality, and
if found to be suitable, prepared for shipment to Germany.
- Upon reaching Germany, the djembes are again tested by Sean, and the
final adjustments to the tuning are made by knotting the ropes.
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