African Drumming

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African Drumming West African drums, art, drum and dance classes, tours and retreats. We believe in uniting cultures through the power of music.

We are dedicated to sharing the music and culture of West Africa in all that we do: through instrument making, workshops, study tours, and performances. We are the largest African music store in Australia and we love our drums! We are committed to giving back to our planet and ensuring our ventures are eco-friendly and sustainable, including the management of two Tree planting initiatives across Ghana and Indonesia. With an international network of drummers and dancers, our team includes performers and drum makers from around West Africa including Mali, Senegal, Guinea and Ghana, and homegrown Aussie talent too. The rhythm journey is a beautiful and often profound paradox, its depth knows no bounds. It has been our goal to take the drum to as many corners of the world as possible. Once it’s there, the vibration of the rhythm goes to work and magic happens.

03/10/2026

There’s something pretty special about making a drum you’ll actually get to play.

Watch Simon explains how the lacing comes together on a Shamanic Frame Drum, securing the drumhead and forming the handle at the back.

You can make your own from start to finish with our Shamanic Drum Making kits.

https://africandrumming.com.au/product/kit-build-your-own-frame-drum/

02/10/2026

The Royal Drummers of Burundi 🇧🇮

In Burundi, the drums were sacred objects of the royal court, played to mark a new king taking the throne, harvests and other major events. In Kirundi, the word ingoma means both “drum” and “kingdom.”

Watch the drums move as they did at court, carried on the drummers’ heads and played on the go.

Video courtesy of:

01/10/2026

Slow first, speed up later 🪘

Simon’s advice for building djembe technique: get your slaps, tones and basses sounding clear at a slower tempo before you start speeding things up
Once you can hold it with clear sounds for a minute, bump up the tempo and do it again.

30/09/2026

Spring Retreat is moving a little later this year ☀️🪘

We’re heading away in November this time, with hopefully a little more sunshine for a weekend of drumming.

We’ll also be at our new location at The Briars in Mount Martha, with bonfire jams on both Friday and Saturday night 🔥

See what else we’ve got planned for Spring Retreat on our website.

29/09/2026

Seth playing a Nigerian Talking Drum in the park 🪘

Listen to the way the pitch bends as he plays. By squeezing and releasing the cords under his arm, Seth changes the tension of the drumhead, moving between higher and lower notes.

This change in pitch allows the Talking Drum to copy the rise and fall of Yoruba speech.
https://africandrumming.com.au/product-category/drums/talking-drums/

27/09/2026

Watch our friends Burkina Azza Jamming on the balafon during our Rhythm Power tour in Ghana. 🇬🇭

They also teach on the tour, and we can’t wait to see them again for Rhythm Power 2028!

26/09/2026

The Adungu, from Uganda. 🇺🇬

The Adungu is a traditional arched harp from the Alur and Acholi peoples of Uganda, with a curved wooden neck and a hollow wooden body covered with animal skin.

In this performance, the sound starts quietly before more voices and Adungus gradually join in.

Have a happy weekend 💙

Video courtesy of

25/09/2026

A glimpse of an old school drum-making method Simon captured in Ghana, using a thick cranking bar and plenty of muscle to get the job done.

Address

252 St Kilda Road
Melbourne, VIC
3182

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+61395253073

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