Three of the most commonly seen campfire drums were created in West Africa: the bongos, djembes and congas. The bongos are two, squat, connected drums that are played on the lap while seated, producing two separate spheres of tone. The djembe is played seated, too, with a bowl-shaped, rope-woven drum cradled between the knees, with its connected inverted-bowl base reaching to the ground. The conga drums are tall, barrel-shaped drums that are played standing, often mounted in sets of two or more to resemble giant versions of the bongo.
Depending on where your campfire is located, and who has found their way around it, some drums may have a Caribbean or Latin American flair. Steel drums are commonly found in drum circles or street music south of the border. Though steel band music isn't as hushed as many would like, it adds a unique dimension when included with other instruments like the bongos or djembe. From Latin America, the djum djum resembles the congas, but replace the barrel-shape for a tall and uniform cylindrical shape, often woven with rope from top to bottom.
Many seek to have a drum circle instrument that sparks conversation as much as it brings a unique tone to the proceedings. The doumbek, of East African descent, is an Arabic version of the djembe but is played in several positions, including slung over one leg. The darbouka is a squattier version of the doumbek and resembles a snare drum on top with sharper, higher-pitched tones. From India, the tabla is a small bongo played individually or with a smaller cousin.
One of several drums of American Indian descent often find their way to your campfire. The frame drum, found in numerous indigenous cultures worldwide, is a common drum still made by American Indians and played around the drum circle or campfire. These drums are the squattest of the drums, usually just a few inches tall, but come in a wide range of circumferences. They are played with the hand or a variety of implements to produce a range of noises.