Foli drums - Djembes & African percussion

06/04/2024

It's a great pride to announce that master Sidiki Camara won the global oslo grammy award in traditional music for his new album: "return to the traditions".
Sidiki is well known to be a great ambassador for the traditional and modern music from Mali.
He is one of the great masters of the djembe, keeper of the tradition and its secrets.
As well as a great composer and chief orchestra, he involved his tradition with musicians from all over the world and musical genres.
After so many tours around the globe, it's time for a "return to the traditions"
Thank you master for your devotion, congratulations!!!!

Sidiki Camara's album "Return to the Traditions" won a Norwegian Grammy tonight for the best traditional music album.

A big congratulations to Sidiki and everyone involved in the project!

The album has music from the piece "Nakan" commissioned by Global Oslo Music, released by Global Sonics.

28/02/2024

Welcome to our new members: Fulgence Coulibaly, Ariel Kenyatta, Jean Marie Jules
May the drum be with you

20/11/2023

Modern master drum from FOLI, special edition.

This drum is made out of one color heartwood of lenke chosen from the bottom of the tree, which makes it a denser wood than usual.
Inspired by Sidiki Camara, the global shape of the drum is quite straight giving a very responsive djembe, high slap, deep tone and a strong bass.

The shell is thicker than usual, made for thicker skins like calf or cow but in this case i put a billy-goat skin as thick as calf and extremely hard, don't forget to put cream on your hands.

The wood was cured for 3 years, afterward i treated it with few layers of tang oil and a wax polish at the end.
the rings are made of stainless steel 6 mm and an iron ring of 8 mm to hold the skin.
We use 4 mm full polyester ropes to make the double nots on top and bottom rings, and 5 mm full polyester rope for the verticals.

Here are some characteristics of the drum:
Diameter: 35 cm / 13,75 Inches
height: 64 cm / 25,2 inches
Weight: 12,5 kg / 27 pounds

there's no carved decorations but for a long time i wished to combine arts and cultures, thanks to Daphna Peleg the bottom of the drum is decorated in the style of the Huichols from Mexico, pearls glued to the wood and varnished at the end.

this is a very powerful djembe and a piece of art.
this djembe is a solist drum, mounted with a very hard skin, it is dominant and will let you fly over the rhythm.

would you like to acquire such an exceptional piece of art and music, you can contact us by private message to get a quote or any question you could have.
have a good drumming.

17/11/2023

Et voila!!!
Heartwood low log lenke.
35 cm diameter
64 cm high
12.5 kg
Dried for 4 years
Extra thick djembe made for heavy duty skins.
Mounted with extra thick billy goat skin!
Thank you Daphna Peleg for the design inspired by huitchol art from mexico.

15/11/2023

Today was the mounting of the skin with a super extra thick billy goat skin.
Now drying time...

14/11/2023

Some special custom modern master djembe on the bench.
Can you guess the wood?

23/09/2023

January 4th 2000, is the day I’ll take to my grave, as my key to heaven...

Since I was a child, I traveled around the world and even lived on a tropical island for a while, but nothing prepared me for landing in Conakry.

The air was hot, humid and heavy, and there’s tons of people everywhere. It’s a huge mess but there’s a lot of happiness in the air.

At first class the master said “we’re going to do kuku”.
Ha, easy, I thought to my self, I already know Kuku. But man, it was different! The playing is faster, stronger but mostly intense, demanding constant focus not to get lost.
This is just the first 5 minutes of the first class and I can already feel a great change in my energy.

The energy you receive, the inspiration you get, the intensity of life itself is incomparable to the other parts of the world. It’s there at the source, and with a correct guidance, you can get to touch the immensity of the powers of the Djembe.

As the workshop go along, we get stronger, body of-corse but also mind. With the Mater's guidance, alongside living the African way of life, you go deep to the ancient roots, and high up to the spirits of the mandeng tribes.
Words are too little to explain but this kind of energy and connection happens only in Africa.

It's been 23 years I'm traveling to West-Africa and those feelings never go away.
It's been 20 years I'm organizing Djembe Master workshops and spreading those feelings to others.

I invite you to join me and my Masters - Adama Drame and Sidiki Camara to a journey that will connect you to the master inside of you and enlighten how playing the djembe can influence all aspects of your life.

there's a link for more details in the first comment.

20/08/2023

The grand-master Sidiki Camara is considered one of the pillars that holds the roots of the djembe tradition, alongside being a pioneer of contemporary Manding music.

Sidiki was born in Mali, started drumming at early age until he becomes the first solist of "National Ballet of Mali", from there pursuing an international career with some of the biggest names in African music, including of Mamady Keita, Toumani Diabaté, Oumou Sangaré, and Habib Koïté.
He has also collaborated with Western musicians such as Bill Frisell, Vinicius Cantuaria, and Jenny Scheinman.

sidiki is Incarnating the power of the djembe. He’s like the battery fueling the whole circle, rising the fire of the djembe and gathering hearts in harmony.

09/08/2023

Adama Dramé -
The djembe virtuoso, Adama Dramé asserts his African identity loyalty to tradition through his music, his compositions, his rhythms and improvisations.

Adama was born in Burkina-Faso, in 1954.
He is the sixth generation of a family of a "griot-storytellers-musicians" from the Malinké culture.

Adama became a professional at the age of twelve.
In 1978, he was the only djembefola in the world to play a one-hour solo concert, which he has been performing over 40 years on the world’s greatest stages and also found his place in contemporary music and jazz.

Adama Dramé "The giant of the Djembe" knows the rhythms of West Africa to perfection.
for decades he's been introducing the world to his culture, his history and his talent, which has since become mythical!

31/07/2023

For the first time EVER -
Two GRAND MASTERS of the Djembe, giving a workshop TOGETHER in Africa!

Two weeks of an intensive and in-depth workshop alongside experiential cultural activities.

all details and surprises -
https://facebook.com/events/s/the-legendary-masters-djembe-w/594104496218917/

24/07/2023

Foli Djembes and African percussion is a collaboration that brings together the world's top African drum masters, with the best artisan craftsmen of traditional drum-building techniques, and together creates the highest quality drums at an affordable price.

For decades our artisan craftsmen have been building premium drums only for a small circle of exclusive clients, some of whom are the most renowned African drum masters (Mamady Keita, Famoudou Konaté, Adama Dramé, Sidiki Camara and more).
For them, we have been producing unique, custom-made instruments, tailored to fit their needs and professional requirements.

Now, along with the masters, their expertise and personal preferences, we have created the "Foli" brand.

With handpicked premium materials and ancient professional secrets, we bring you Djembe drums and African percussions with unmatched durability, frequency response, and a clear, deep, round sound.
attached, you will find a demonstration video of our Traditional Djembe model.
For a better quality sound, please use headphones.
We will be happy to provide more videos of our other drums and models, at your request.

Foli guarantees every drummer - from amateurs to professionals - a suitable drum to their needs
Foli guarantees the best value for money of original West-African Djembes & percussions.