Our History

Before 1950, the djembe was virtually unknown outside of Africa. However, Guinea’s first president after independence, Sékou Touré, recognized the importance of preserving and promoting the country’s rich musical heritage. He supported this vision by funding international tours and establishing rehearsal facilities for Guinea’s premier performance group, Les Ballets Africains. This iconic group, along with many others that followed, brought the djembe and its accompanying music and dance to the global stage.

While the djembe grew in popularity, finding authentic, high-quality wooden drums that were durable, beautiful, and produced great sound remained a challenge. In 2006, Wula Drum was founded with a mission to fill this gap, quickly becoming an industry leader in high-quality West African percussion.

At Wula Drum, we take immense pride in crafting instruments that are not only durable and visually stunning but also deliver exceptional sound quality. We collaborate with a team of salaried artists in Guinea, West Africa, who help us continually innovate the form and structure of the djembe.

The name “Wula” was chosen by our artistic director, M’Bemba Bangoura. In the Susu language, "Wula" means "deep inside the forest"—a reference to where we source the finest wood to craft our drums. This reflects our commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and tradition.

M’Bemba, along with many other legendary performers, deserves the highest quality instruments. At Wula Drum, we are proud to provide percussion instruments for some of West Africa’s most influential musicians.

Our passion lies in empowering West African drum makers and performing artists, helping them build successful careers while ensuring the continued legacy of the djembe worldwide. We are driven by the belief that the djembe, through its powerful rhythms, fosters peace, celebration, and harmony across cultures.