African Aubergine

Carved in low relief, creamy triangles embrace the purple base of a mini djembe drum. Christopher Nyasafo sculpts the drum from tweneboa wood. The goatskin head is affixed by iron rings wrapped in cotton, and black nylon cords tighten the drumhead. The djembe originated in Benin, where it is used in traditional ceremonies and voodoo rituals; today it appears in reggae groups the world over.