The djembe is a rope-tuned skin covered goblet drum played with hands, originally from West Africa. Traditional djembes are carved from a piece of hardwood and the drumhead covered by rawhide. Most highly valued ones are carved from the lenke tree and covered with goatskin. The name of the djembe comes from the saying “Anke djé, anke bé” which translates to “everyone gather together in peace” in the Bambara language and defines the drum’s purpose. Djembe players use three basic sounds: bass, tone, and slap, which have low, medium, and high pitch. These sounds are achieved by varying the striking technique and position. The djembe has been an integral part of spiritual and ritualistic life in West Africa for many generations. It was traditionally only played by griots, well respected high-class musicians, who used it for storytelling.