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Description

Make an African Djembe Drum (Jem-bay)
A Djembe is a rope-tuned skin-covered goblet drum played with bare hands, originally from West Africa, and traditionally played by men.

You will need multiple sessions, A great activity to go alongside an international or an African theme, or Music Staged Badge or on a camp.

http://artsmarts4kids.blogspot.com/2008/10/create-your-own-african-djembe-drum.html?m=1

Resources

Two plastic, Styrofoam, or paper cups
Scissors
Tape
Newspaper
Flour & Water - For Paper Mache
Paint
Paintbrush
Punching balloon
Rubber band
Wool (optional)

Instructions

Cover your workspace. You’ll notice in the pictures how messy my towel got. Mix one cup of flour with two cups of water to make your papier mache paste. Tear newspaper into strips.

Choose two cups. Try to pick cups with interesting shapes. Cut the bottom out of the cups. You may need an adult to help with this step. Tape the bottoms of the cups together.

Cover the outside of the cups with a thin layer of papier mache covered newspaper strips. You don’t need to use a lot of the mixture to make the newspaper stick, and the less you use the quicker your cups will dry.

Session 2:
When the cups are dry, paint over the newspaper with white paint. (Leaders may want to do this before session 2?) This is just meant to cover up the newsprint and make sure it doesn’t show through the designs you paint onto your drum later.

Session 3:
Decide what patterns or designs you want to paint onto your drum.

When the white paint has dried, paint over it with a solid colour. I painted the top of my drum brown and the bottom yellow. You can choose any colours you want.
Now paint your patterns onto your drum. Let the paint dry

Choose a balloon and cut it open. It’s best if you stick your scissors into the opening and just slit the balloon apart. This leaves it as whole as possible. Stretch the balloon over the top of the cup and wrap your rubber band around it to hold it in place. You want the balloon to be stretched tight. Ask an adult to help you if you have trouble with this. Cut off most of the extra balloon (careful—not too much)

If you stop here, you have a lovely, working drum.

Tags

• africa
• African
• craft
• creative
• instrument
• international
• musical instrument

Badge Links

• Craft - Badge Completed
• Creative - Activity
• International - Craft
• Musician - Interest
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