The jembé is one of the most common drums found throughout West Africa, originating from the Mali and Guinea regions. Jembé means to come together and share the music in Bamana. To play the jembé well is to speak the Bamana language with the rhythms. To appreciate the sounds of the jembé is to receive the deep message of its communicating rhythms. Drummers often suspend the jembé from straps clasped about the shoulders in order to play it with ease. There are three basic strokes we play on the jembé; they are 'slap,' 'tone' and 'bass.'

Dun dun is a large two-headed drum made of wood that often accompanies jembé playing. The dun dun provides the bass of the music. The kinkini is the smallest of the three dun duns; the sangba is the medium sized drum drummers play with one hand and a stick; and the dun dun is the largest of them all. Usually dun duns are made with cow skin.

Sabar is an orchestra of the hand and stick drums of the Wolof people of Senegal. The skin drums are played with one hand and a thin wooden stick. It is set on the ground or strapped to the side of the body. It consists of the goron, lamba, mbalak, and sabar, from the lowest to highest sounds. Sabar speaks the languages of the Wolof and Serer peoples. The rhythm and dance steps were named for this drum. There are several styles of sabar dancing.