Page "Djembe" Paragraph 4

Traditionally, the djembe is played only by men, as are the dunun that always accompany the djembe.

Conversely, other percussion instruments that are commonly played as part of an ensemble, such as the shekere ( a hollowed-out gourd covered with a net of beads ), karignan ( a tubular bell ), and kese kese ( a woven basket rattle ), are usually played by women.

Even today, it is rare to see women play djembe or dunun in West Africa and African women express astonishment when they do see a female djembe player.

( See also Women djembefolas, below.