1.Wood Types & Quality

The wood is the most important part of the djembe. A good selection of wood, treated properly, can last for generations. Always check for cracks and look the drum over carefully. We believe that Guinean hardwoods produce the best sound when carved professionally. Our hardwood djembes are constructed from khadi, acajou, lengue and doukie. These are the hardest, densest woods available in Guinea. We also have djembes made from Melina wood. Melina wood, which is lighter and less dense, was normally used for making drums for tourists, and therefore, not carved well. However, we discovered that when our top carvers took their time and carved the Melina wood professionally, the djembes sounded fantastic and were more affordable.

Our head carvers choose each tree carefully to ensure the wood is of the best quality. Besides type of wood, our team of carvers carefully chooses each tree and use heartwood (center of the tree) instead of sapwood as often as possible. Unlike many other drum makers, we let our drums dry properly before stringing them up. It is important to let the moisture out of the wood naturally because if the wood dries too fast it cracks, and if the skins are put on the drum before it is fully dry, they don’t sound as good.

2. Form
The form of the djembe is equally as important as the type of wood. The secret to a great sounding drum is in how well it is carved on the inside, especially where the bowl meets the stem. Our carvers pay attention to all aspects of drum form including stem to bowl ratio, size, height and bearing edge. We are continuously developing a better sounding djembe with our techniques.


3. Skins
When buying a drum, always make sure there are no holes or rips. Once there is a tear in the skin it is only a short matter of time until the drum is unplayable. In our experience, West African goatskins give the best sound, most likely because of the environment they are raised in. For example, American goats endure cold climates and high-soy diets. They are fat and their skins are more rubbery. Meanwhile, West African goats, in a hot climate, have thinner coats and are leaner. West African skins have a crisper sharper sound. Also, skins from some companies, such as ones in Pakistan, use chemicals to take the hair off. Although very cheap, these skins get very dried out and do not sound good or last long at all. All skins for Wula Drum are hand shaven at the time the drum is being fixed to ensure the best sound. Another important factor is whether the skin is from a male or female goat. Male skins have a strong musky odor while female skins do not. Wula Drum only uses female skins. Since our drums are from Guinea, so are our skins. We believe they sound the best of West Africa. We have high standards and handpick only the best skins to go our drums.

4. Rings & Rope, Rubber & Oils
Besides the quality of the wood, form and carving, the materials used to assemble the drum are very important. The rings should be tightly fitted onto the drum and made out of a strong metal so they are not bent and/or stretched. There should be no space or gaps in between the wood and the ring. The rope needs to be no stretch, high quality strong rope. If the rope is low quality when you tighten the drum, you will end up stretching the rope and not the skin and it is a lot more work with less results. We use custom made rope which has no stretch, made by sailing companies. Most models of drums come with a rubber bottom, which protects the drum as well as the surface you’re playing on. West Africa has the best wood, but it is difficult to get all the high quality materials we need over there, so we ship our rope, oils, waxes, tools etc. to Guinea to ensure the best quality drum possible.

5. Size and weight
Make sure you are comfortable sitting at your drum and carrying it around. No matter how beautiful a drum may be, if it is too tall or heavy, you will be uncomfortable and will not enjoy playing it. The size of your hand should determine what size drum (diameter) you need. Both hands should have their own playing area on the drumhead. The drum should rest comfortably in between the drummers’ legs and not be a strain to hold.

6. Price
Buying a drum should be a ‘win win’ situation. Both the buyer and the seller should be happy. We feel it is important to honor both sides of the sale. You should not feel ‘ripped off’ or taken advantage of. It is also important to realize that a lot of work goes into the construction and sale of the djembe and that to receive top quality it will cost more than the low quality products in the marketplace.

7. Aesthetics and buyer’s intuition
Some people say that you don’t pick the drum, the drum picks you! It is important to listen to your intuition and go with what you like, not just what you think you should have. Some people want a certain color, or a certain decorative design. Aesthetics mean different things to different people. The beauty of handmade drums is that they are all different. Make sure you are happy with your choice, it is your drum, and you have to play it!

8. Satisfaction Guaranteed
Make sure you have an agreement with the seller about your satisfaction as a customer. The reason we started Wula Drum is because of our love for the djembe. We understand the need to be happy with your drum purchase! Wula Drum’s policy is satisfaction guaranteed.

9. Service options
Many people sell drums, but few service them. The wood shell of your drum could last generations, but eventually you will need to have new skin put on. Also, you will need to know how to care for and tune your drum. Wula Drum offers a full service repair shop as well as a staff of enthusiastic folks to answer any and all of your questions.

10. Don’t believe the hype, people lie!
Don’t always believe what you read, or what people say. Many folks out there selling drums lie about the name of the wood, where it is from, who made it, etc. etc. It is good to ask questions and compare answers with other companies.