Getting bigger at 10 inches high and with a playing head 5 to 6 inches in diameter. Suitable for children from 2 years upwards and sounds great played with the fingertips or the wooden drumstick supplied free with each drum. The painting is all done by hand, so every drum is different. Drums are also available to order with mica instead of goatskin.

Can be played with the fingertips or the wooden drumstick supplied free with each drum. Coffee stirrers from coffee shops also work well, as will any lightweight stick. When using your fingers it's best to flick them quickly, so that they just touch the skin for an instant before bouncing off again.

What else to say? This makes a great little present even for big drummers!

The same steps are used to make a mini djembe like this as for a full-size professional one. First of all take a piece of wood - a bit of waste mahogany left over from furniture production in this case. Second, carve the outside djembe shape, hollow out the inside using a lathe and then shape the edge of the top by hand. Third, weld 3 strong metal rings around the waist and top of the djembe, ready for taking the stringing. Fourth, cut a piece of tanned goatskin to fit the drum head and position it so that the top metal ring goes over it. Fifth using traditional stringing techniques between the three metal rings, increase the tension of the goatskin unitl itt produces a satisfying note. Sixth decorate the djembe with safe water-based paints and colourful aboriginal designs. Finally carefully finish all the edges to make sure there are no splinters or sharp edges.

Nothing much to do to look after these mini djembes but be sure not to let the skin get damp as it will lose its tension and when the tension goes, so does the sound. If you do have an accident you can always try using a hair dryer to warm up and tighten the skin – or put it in the sun for twenty minutes and it will soon dry out.