LW Events
Ann Arbor Adult drum. Sep-13-2007 - Jun-01 (Thursdays, 7:15-8:45 pm)
Adult Dance Class in Ann Arbor. Sep-13-2007 - Jun-01 (Thursdays, 5:30-7pm)
Battle Creek Drum Classes. Jan-16 - May-28 (7-8:30 pm)
"I went to Africa with few expectations; I just knew I needed to go. Guinea was the best time of my life. The people that I met there were the salt of the earth, so open and music was all around. The artists of Ballet Watafre are incredibly open and eager to teach."
— David Boston, Nottingham, England
Like Water Store
Like Water Specializes in fine West African instruments and accessories. With many mediocre instruments on the market, we strive to offer true professional djembes and dununs, uncompromised mid-sized and youth drums, as well as ashikos and balafons.
Through years of travel and study in West Africa, Ryan Edwards and his team of drum makers have absorbed, honed and innovated the art of drum making. We combine first class Guinea djembe and dunun shells with high quality Guinea skins and low stretch nylon rope for only the best instruments.
Learn to tune your djembe: view the online instructions, or the printable page (3.3 MB PDF file).
Djembes
Our drum shells are carved in Guinea, West Africa only, by carvers we know. Wood available in Hardi, Lenge, and Jala (Akazu). Drums are traditionally strung in Michigan, using fresh, chemical-free goat skins from Guinea, and high-quality American hiking line.
Our inventory is ever changing, so contact us for our current availability.
Custom carving and inlays available. Full size available in natural oil and polyurethane finishes.
Djembes Complete
| Full Size | approx. (24.5" x 12.5") | $350 - 400 |
| Medium | approx. (20.5" x 10") | $160 - 220 |
When ordering full size djembes, please specify wood (Hardi, Lenge, or Jala), and size preference. We will do our best to find you your drum.
Let's talk via email about what would work for you. Retailers and Institutions, please ask for the wholesale price list.
Djembes Accessories
Drummer's Hands is a lotion based on the Karite nut from Guinea. It is a traditional salve used for many things (wood finishing, muscle and joint pain, cooking, ceremonial offerings, and more). Our concoction includes Arnica (a homeopathic cell rebuilding stimulant), Hypericum (a homeopathic nerve tonic), Lavender (soothing) and Tea Tree Oil (a disinfectant). $10 jar
Drum Straps are made from real mudcloth (a traditionally dyed African cotton material), sewn into straps here in Michigan. $35 for a full sized person drum strap.
| Full size djembe shell | rings not included | $150 |
| Straps | approx. 17ft of mudcloth / earthtones | $35 |
| Karite salves | drummers hands, no bugs, baby balm | $10 each |
| Pulling stick | oak | $15 each |
| Steel rings | guaranteed | $15 each |
| Goat Skins | (with hair / natural / fresh) | $25 |
| Build your own Djembe Kit | Full Size djembe shell, 80ft 4mm hiking line, 3 rings, 2 goat skins, pulling stick | $225 - 250 |
Dununs
Hand-carved shells from Guinea, West Africa available in the tradional white wood. Hand-strung in our shop in Chelsea, Michigan using the tradional ringless method (American made 4mm hiking line secures the skin). Skins are chemical-free from Guinea cows.
Dununs Complete
| Dununba | (approx 28" x 15.5") | $450 - 550 |
| Sangban | (approx 24.5" x 11.5") | $350 |
| Kenkeni | (approx 21.5" x 10") | $250 |
| Dunun Set | Traditional 3 drum family, 3 bells, 3 wood sticks and 3 metal bell sticks | $1,100 - 1,200 |
Stave-Constructed Dununs
| Dununba | $400 |
| Sangban | $300 |
| Kenkeni | $200 |
Dunun Accessories
| Dununba Stave Hardwood Shell | $250 |
| Dununba Solid Shell | $450-550 |
| Sangban Shell | $175 |
| Kenkeni Shell | $100 |
| Cow skins whole | $125-150 |
| Cow skin circles each | $35-$50 |
| Bells, Guinea-Style (s, m, l) each | $15 |
| Bell sticks, metal with tape 6-12" each | $7 |
Build your own Dunun Kits: Shell, appropriate rope, 2 pre-cut skins with hair, bell and stick.
| Kenkeni Kit | $180 |
| Sangban Kit | $235 |
| Dununba Kit | $390 |
Shekeres
Hand-woven netting dresses small, medium, and large gourds. Glass and wood beads, shells, seeds and nuts are strung (in various combinations) on tough resonant gourds.
| Small (ahatse style) | $20 |
| Medium | $100 |
| Large | $120-200 |
| Kids ahatse | $15 |
Balafons
Our balafons are all made in the ancient village of Kindia, the neighborhood of Tafory, in Guinea. We offer two qualities of balafon - new balas for $350, and older, seasoned balas for $450. Older balas have been smoked more times (the process of climatizing and drying out of the wood, then retuning - no small task) resulting in a richer sound, a longer life of the tuning (climate will eventually change the pitch of most balas, especially young ones).
Like Water also specializes in smoking balas, mentioned above, which we do at our workshop in Chelsea, MI. This ancient process has been carefully studied in West Africa, and respectfully carried home for the love, care and maitenance of our growing family of balafon enthusiasts. Contact Like Water for more information on this process and the options for tuning.
| Full Size | $350-450 |
| Small (1.5 octave) | $120 |
| Sticks / pair | $25 |
Ashikos
Stave-constructed (slats of wood glued together) in Chelsea, Michigan. Built using domestic woods in combination with American hiking line and African goat and cow skins.
Ashikos Complete Goat Skinned
| Oak | Poplar | Pine | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Size | approx. (24.5" x 9.5") | $375 | $325 | $275 |
| Medium | approx. (21" x 10") | $275 | $200 | |
| Small (Seen Below) | approx. (18" x 9.5") | $125 |
Ashikos Complete Cow Skinned
| Oak | Poplar | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Size | approx. (24.5" x 9.5") | $375 | $325 |
When ordering Ashikos, please specify wood and size preference. We will do our best to find you your drum. Custom carvings (as seen above or your ideas), custom stains (blue, green, purple, red, and orange) and custom rope as available.
Recordings
Like Water's 2002 release "To the Roots". 9 tracks professionally recorded at Solid Sound, in Ann Arbor, MI. The real deal music, great arrangements, layer of drums, balafons and vocals, featuring the drumming and singing of the Like Water ensemble. Tracks included: Sobosoli (sobonikum/soli medley), Balakulania, Sofa, Kotedjuga (aka Komodenu), Mandiani, Seh Houdou Seh, Gidamba/Djaa, Solsonet, and Hu - an original composition by Ryan Edwards.
| To the Roots | $15 |