Collection: African Djembe Drums - Large - Best Sellers

Here you can view our extensive online range of large sized Master Series African djembe drums for sale, all hand-crafted by Mady Keita and with original carvings by Yacouba Kone, from Super Mande Percussion. 

The best in African percussion instruments available in Australia, these djembe drums are a true representation of the Mande culture and spirit, honouring the traditional wood types, designs, carvings and sounds.

Need some extra help finding the perfect drum for you?  Not a problem.  Answer a few simple questions using the Quiz below to help you narrow down the options and choose a favourite.    

 

For more in-depth guidance you might also like this handy guide on how to choose a djembe drum, which outlines the different drum sizes, wood types, budget considerations and more.

Or you can get in touch today or pop into the shop and have a chat with drum maker Mady for professional advice and all-round djembe wisdom.

60 products


Why You’ll Love these Djembe Drums

✔️  Master Series Quality

They’re made by Master Drum Craftsmen from Mali, West Africa, who have decades of experience in creating professional-quality custom djembes for Master Drummers throughout their home country and beyond.  The wisdom, expertise and spirit that goes into every one of our Master Series djembes is unique to Super Mande Percussion, so you can take comfort in knowing that these djembes will sound as awesome as they look.  Learn more about our Master Craftsman Mady Keita here.

 

✔️  Made from Authentic Hardwoods

There are only a few types of hardwood that are historically used for djembe construction in Mali, West Africa, and all of the djembe drums showcased here have been carefully selected from these authentic woods.  Below is a quick overview:

  • Dugura wood: The Dugura (pronounced doo-goo-rah) is an ancient djembe wood type that is typically mid-brown in colour but comes in a range of shades from near-white through to dark brown, and according to Mady Keita they are most often played during the night time in Mali for all types of occasion.  Professionally made Dugura djembe drums like the ones you’ll find in this collection have a strong sound projection and wide range of tonality, with deep base sounds and distinct tones, so you can expect them to bring out your full potential as a drummer.
  • Lingué wood: Another of the earliest djembe wood types, the Lingué (pronounced len-geh) woods can be red, yellow or golden in appearance.  Unlike the Dugura woods, the are traditionally played during the day in Mali.  The Lingué djembes you'll find here are renowned for their impressive sound characteristics, particularly in the mid to upper tonal ranges.  They're also relatively easy to play, so a great choice for beginners right through to advanced level drummers.
  • Djala wood: The Djala woods typically have a red appearance, and according to Mady Keita they are comparable in sound characteristics to the Lingué woods.  Even now in Mali, they remain among the most frequently chosen djembe woods for day-time drumming.
  • Guéni wood: A more modern type of hardwood, the Guéni wood has become popular in Mali over the last 2 decades for djembe construction.  It is also commonly used to make the balafon instrument (African xylophone).  Guéni woods come in different shades, some a combination of white and brown, others very dark brown and more consistent in colour.  With similar sound characteristics to the Dugura woods, the Guéni djembe woods are another night-time favourite in Mali.
  • Kashia wood:  Another of the relatively modern hardwoods, the Kashia wood has become more prevalent over the last 2 decades for djembe construction in Mali.  Kashia woods are typically multi-shaded in colour, with combinations of near-black / dark-brown and near-black / white being common.  Djembes crafted from the Kashia wood offer similar sound characteristics to the Dugura and Guéni woods.

 

✔️  Topped with Natural Skin to Complement the Shell

Mady Keita takes extreme care to select the right skin type to match each djembe drum wood, shape and dimensions, to bring out its best sound. For some djembes, you’ll see that Mady has chosen a goat skin that is relatively light and easy on the hands.  Others feature a calf skin that is relatively thick and has the added benefit of being extra long lasting.

 

✔️  They're Big Ones

At the top end of the range in terms of both their height and drum head diameter, these djembe drums are perfect if you’re looking for an impressive full-size djembe with a powerful sound that will last you for life.  As a general guide, our large djembes have a height in the range 61 to 66 cm (24 to 26 in) and playing surface diameter of 31 to 35 cm (12 to 14 in).  You can find all the key specifications on each individual drum product page.  Once you’ve found your ideal djembe match, rest assured you’ll never need to upgrade or upsize again.

 

Feedback from Our Customers

What are other people saying about our Master Series djembe drums?

  • Mady is the real deal, authentic drum maker. I love my drum and it has helped me to progress with my journey   - Carl M. (Google Review)
  • Great quality, my partner is super happy with his new Djembe! Wonderful service and fast delivery! Thanks for the complimentary bag too :)   - Claire M. (Verified buyer)
  • This drum is beautifully made. I absolutely love the bright colours, the sound the drum makes - everything! The kids love it, the hubby loves it, and I love it. What a wonderful instrument … Highly recommend this drum and others like it by Super Mande Percussion.   - Steph (Verified Reviewer)
  • I love my Super Mande Percussion [djembe drum]. The sound is exactly what I had been looking for. Thanks Mady Keita for making it for me! 😊   - Kat P. (Facebook Recommendation)
  • Beautiful sounding drum, thank you!   - Duncan B. (Verified buyer)
  • Boom Slap Tap!!! Love it.  I was so excited to receive my drum, even more so when I began to play. The deep sound is music to my ears and healing to my heart. Extremely well made.  I've already enjoyed many hours of solo play & now ready to regroup with others to enhance the performance.  Thank you for your great communication & swift postage.  - Bernadette F. (Verified buyer)
  • Awesome drum.  This drum sounds beautiful. It is a joy to play, and well made too. I love it.  - Matthew T. (Verified buyer)
  • Very pleased with my purchase and satisfied with the purchase process.  - Pierre D. (Verified buyer)

 

Drum Love Guarantee

All of these djembe drums come with the Super Mande Percussion Drum Love Guarantee (see below) and we also offer free drum tuning for the life of your new djembe.

djembe drum love guarantee