What material is the djembe typically made from?

• A. Hollowed-out wood
• B. Metal
• C. Plastic
• D. Ceramic

Answer: (A)

The djembe’s distinctive sound comes from its hollow wooden shell. Traditionally, it is carved from a hardwood block and hollowed out to form a goblet-shaped body, creating a resonant cavity that produces the drum’s warm bass and sharp slaps. The goatskin head stretched over the top and tied with rope or hardware completes the instrument. While other materials like metal, plastic, or ceramic exist in some nontraditional drums, they don’t capture the traditional resonance and practicality of the wooden shell. So hollowed-out wood is the standard material.