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From Frenchdjembé, from Mandinkajembe which derives from the Bambara language, "djé" is the verb for "gather" and "bé" translates as "peace." As a result, "Anke djé, anke bé" which translates to "everyone gather together in peace" and defines the drum's purpose.
(music) A large, rope-tuned, skin-covered drum played with the bare hands, used in West African and some fusion music.
2007, Karin Gaynell Patterson, Expressions of Africa in Los Angeles Public Performance, 1781—1994, page 133:
There are three principal types of traditional drums in Guinean Sousou culture: the djembe, the dundun, and the tama. The djembe is a single-headed goblet-shaped drum with a relatively high-pitched tone.
2009, Tamara Dean, Composition for Computer Musicians, page 51:
The djembe is one of the best-known and popular African drums, particular with those in the West who are interested in learning a drumming tradition.
2010, Randy Raine-Reusch, Play the World: The 101 World Instrument Primer, page 91:
The djembe has become the most recognizable drum from West Africa, with a history that can be traced to the twelfth century Mali Empire and the Mandinka people.
2012, Michi Henning, Djembe Construction: A Comprehensive Guide, page 13:
Very few djembes are perfectly round. Most are slightly egg- or triangle-shaped. Lack of roundness is not a problem for sound: many such djembes sound excellent.
