The doundouns, also called douns, are the rhythmic pillars of the Mandinka percussion ensemble, originating from West Africa (Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso). While the djembe is the soloist that commands attention, the doundouns are the heart and lungs of the music, the deep and powerful pulse that sustains the ensemble and communicates with the djembe players in a vibrant rhythmic dialogue: without them, the rhythm has no foundation.

 

They usually come in sets of three, each with a specific size and role. They consist of a cylindrical wooden barrel (often made of melina wood) and two thick cowhides.

 

The three drums of the dundun family are:

• Sangban: The medium — it is what gives the rhythm its identity.

• Kenkeni: the smallest, It ensures temporal stability, it is the metronome.Kenkeni.

• Doundoumba: the largest, The bass, a deep, powerful, and resonant tone. It provides the power and often responds to the djembe soloist; it is traditionally played by the most experienced drummer in the ensemble. Unlike the djembe, which is played with the hands, the doundoun is played polyrhythmically with a stick and a metal bolt.

• The dominant hand: Strikes the drumhead with a wooden stick to produce a dull or open sound.

• The other hand: Strikes a metal bell attached to the instrument's body.

 

It is this combination between the skin (bass) and the bell (treble) that creates the melodic richness characteristic of Mandinka music.