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Handcrafted Kente Theme Authentic African Djembe Drum, 'Kente Spirit'

Product ID: U165201

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Handcrafted Kente Theme Authentic African Djembe Drum, 'Kente Spirit'

Delivery Estimate

This item is available for pre-order and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks. Learn More

Available in 2 to 8 weeks. Learn More

Details

Beautiful and sonorous, this djembe drum features engraved designs that emulate Africa's renowned kente cloth. Robert K. Ghartey crafts the handsome drum. The goatskin head is affixed by iron rings wrapped in cotton, and a macramé cord can be slung over the shoulder.

The djembe originated in Benin, where it is used during voodoo rites, and has been introduced into neighboring countries. It is indispensable in contemporary reggae.

Made in Ghana

  • Tweneboa wood, goatskin, iron rings, cotton cords
  • Instrument Rating: Advanced/Professional quality, intended for discerning musicians
  • Hand-crafted item -- color, size and/or motif may vary slightly
  • Free Gift Wrap? No
  • Premium Gift Wrap? No
  • 5.68 kgs
  • 12.5 lbs
  • 59 cm H x 37 cm Diam.
  • 23" H x 14.5" Diam.
View in metric units View in US/English units

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Robert K. Ghartey

Meet the Artist

Artfully crafted by Robert K. Ghartey from West Africa.

 

Meet the Artist

Robert K. Ghartey

Robert K. Ghartey

"Life was so difficult then, but I kept my focus and my mother was a source of motivation, always encouraging me to keep up the good work I was doing."

"My name is Robert Kofi Ghartey, born on January 15, 1982 in Ghana's coastal area. I come from a loving family... comprising my mum and dad, an elder sister and brother, and four younger siblings. Unfortunately my dad passed away after struggling with some strange illness for about ten years. He left us in dire economic conditions because all properties were sold trying to bring him back to life. A year later, my elder sister also died from a similar ailment.

"I had a desire to continue formal education, but as a result of my father dying I had to drop out of school. I joined my elder brother who was carving drums because I felt I needed to do something with my life now that I was out of school. My brother was glad to teach me and I learned very fast. I could be of help to him at his workshop, including going to get the raw materials. My interest in carving developed. Soon I was crafting beautiful drums and I continued to improve my style and technique.

"The positive comments that I received from customers inspired me to work more. I was keeping the profit I made on each drum and I used part of it to put my younger siblings back into school, since they also had to drop out when father died. This was a major step I had taken and I knew I had to work extra hard in order to keep my siblings in school. My mother would be able to take care of their feeding and personal up-keeping. However, the rate of sales was slow and so, at one point, my brother left carving and moved into another trade.

"Carving was all I had, and so I had to make it work and my younger siblings were also looking up to me. I used to send some of the drums to the art centre to display in a friend's shop. Life was so difficult then, but I kept my focus and my mother was a source of motivation, always encouraging me to keep up the good work I was doing. My siblings were performing well at school, so I knew my effort was not in vain.

"To describe my process, the djembe shell is carved from a tweneboa wood trunk, then we take the dimension of the shell to weld the three metal rings that we use to fix the goat hide. We cover the metal rings with a cloth to avoid rusting. Then we weave the pegs on one metal ring and lace it with the rope. After, we sandpaper the carved shell to give it a smooth surface, and then we design the desired scene to carve on the shell. We leave it out in the sun to dry, then we polish it and put it back outside for about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, the hide will be soaked in clean water for about 40 mins to an hour, to allow for flexibility to stretch on one metal ring and place it on the shell and support it with the other ring featuring the pegs. After that we pull it half way to support the skin and dress it, apply shea butter underneath to avoid cracking and leave it out in the sun for a minimum of four days, depending on the weather.

"We bring it back in and test the sound, re-stretching the drum head if needed and make it sure it sounds beautifully. We dress it and apply shea butter under it to prevent it from cracking, and then it is ready to be played.

"I've been doing this for about nine years, I have taught about fifteen people and currently we have four helpers. My prize or awards are the good comments that my customers shower on my products.

"I would like to tell all Novica customers to keep sponsoring Novica products because they are the best, and Novica also makes it easier for us, the under privileged, to make ends meet.

"I have struggled a lot and therefore my general dreams are to become a great exporter so I could have money. I'd like to set up a foundation to care for the deprived aged and the orphans. I also want to be a very responsible father. By attaining these goals I will say that God has really done everything on earth for me. I know it will surely come to pass, because the sky is just the beginning and Heaven is my limit."

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Return instructions

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This item is available for backorder and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks. Artists love to get backorders. Placing a backorder ensures that the artisan will do their best to create and deliver your item to our local office for shipment.

Although we cannot guarantee availability, we do expect to be able to fill the order within the timeframe indicated. But sometimes life happens - special materials may not be immediately available to the artist, or there might be some other circumstance beyond our control that could delay the shipment.

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WOMEN S M L XL XXL
4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
BUST 35 - 36 37 - 38 39 - 41 42 - 44 46 - 48
WAIST 27 - 28 29 - 30 31 - 33 34 - 36 38 - 40
HIPS 37 - 38 39 - 40 42 - 43 45 - 46 49 - 50
MEN S M L XL XXL
CHEST 36 - 38 39 - 41 42 - 44 46 - 48 50 - 52
WAIST 30 - 32 32 - 34 35 - 37 38 - 41 43 - 45
NECK 14 - 14.5 15 - 15.5 16 - 16.5 17 - 17.5 18 - 18.5
SLEEVE 32.5 33.5 34.5 35.5 36.5
FINDING YOUR SIZE

Take your measurements with the tape measure over your under garments. If your measurements fall between sizes you may prefer the next larger size. Inseam, skirt and dress lengths vary by style and will be listed in the item description. Our sweaters are knit in standard American sizes, however actual measurements vary by style.

BUST / CHEST

Measure around the fullest part of chest under the arms and over the shoulder blades keeping the tape measure level.

WAIST

Measure around the smallest part of the waist keeping the tape measure comfortably loose. Most garments use the low waist measurement noted below.

LOW WAIST

Measure around the body approximately 1.5" below the natural waist (above). This is the area where most pants and skirts actually fit.

HIPS

Standing with your heels together, measure around the fullest part of the body approx 7"-8" below the waist.

NECK

Measure around the base of the neck keeping the tape measure comfortably loose.

SLEEVE

Bend elbow slightly and starting at the center back of the neck, measure across the shoulder, to the elbow and down to the wrist.

INSEAM

Our standard inseam length for women is 32" and 34" for men; however inseam measurements will vary slightly by style.

 

Belts with buckles are measured in inches that correspond to a waist size however, most people do not wear belts on the waist, they wear them closer to the hips. A buckle belt measurement is take from the end of the "pin" of the buckle to the middle hole on the belt. Generally there are 5 holes for size adjustment, with a 1" space between each, so the middle hole will the be average size of the belt.

For at tie belt (no buckle) measure the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This again is the medium size of the belt.

For a soft fabric tie belt it can be called "1 size fits most" and the entire length of the belt should be measured and listed.

See buckle/tie belt size standards below.

WOMEN S M L XL  
4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
inches 26 - 30 28 - 32 31 - 35 34 - 38 38 - 42
cm 76 - 86 81.5 - 91.5 86.5 - 96.5 91.5 - 101.5 96.5 - 106.5

+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm

MEN S M L XL XXL
inches 30 - 34 32 - 36 35 - 39 39 - 43 43 - 47
cm 81.5 - 91.5 86.5 - 96.5 91.5 - 101.5 96.5 - 106.5 109 - 119

+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm

Sash tie length

Lay sash/tie out flat away from the garment and measure from end to end.

Belt with buckle

Measure from the end of the pin of the buckle (where it touches the buckle) to the middle hole.

Belt without buckle

Measure from the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This is will give you the medium size of the belt.

Download our printable ring sizing chart to find the perfect fit!

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