- Solid log of wood of your desired height/diameter (African Mahogany wood is traditional)
- Buffalo or cow hide (2.5 - 3 mm or .098 - 0.118 inches)
- 10 - 12 large screw eyes with loops
- Natural rawhide lacing
- Sand paper
- Wood chisel
- Rasp
- Coping saw or scroll saw
- Coping or scroll saw
- 2 - 3 heavy duty wood clamps
#### 1. Select your log and prepare hide
First, select a straight and smooth log of hardwood of the size and shape you desire for your drum. (Traditional kalangu drums are usually 20 - 30 cm in diameter and 60 - 80 cm tall).
Prepare your untanned buffalo or cowhide of thickness 2.5 - 3 mm (.098 - .118 inches) by scraping it to further thin it.
#### 2. Carve the body
Using your wood chisel and/or rasp, shape your log into a drum body. Create a slightly raised lip around the top end to help secure the drumhead better to the body later on.
Leave the very bottom of the log flat and even. This will be the base of your drum.
To create the perfect rounded shape, consider sketching the profile of your drum onto the log and follow the outline as you carve it.
#### 3. Install eyelets
Screw in 10 - 12 screw eyes with loops at a slight angle just below the top edge of the drum. Make sure the eyelets are evenly spaced around the opening. These screw holes will be covered later by the drum skin.
#### 4. Carve an oval hole
On the base, carve a hole in the center about half the diameter of your drum. Cut deep enough to fit your fingers inside the hole. (This is where you will hold the drum later).
#### 5. Add drum head
Dampen the drum hide and soak it in water for about 10 - 15 minutes. This makes it easier to stretch the hide around your drum.
Position the hide centered on your drum, ensuring that the holes from your screw eyes face out.
Tie a looped rawhide to one of the screw eyes closest to you and pull it tight with your hands around to the opposite eyelet where you tie it off temporarily.
Work your way around the drum using the same technique, tying off two eyelets at a time. As you finish each new pair of eyelets, loosen the previous pair to ensure even tension all-round.
Once all the eyelets have a temporary tie, begin to make the permanent knots on your drum. (You can find instructional videos online for help with this part). Remember to keep an eye on the tension you are applying. Your hide will stretch more as it dries, so you may want to apply slightly more tension.
To secure your tension, apply heat from a hair dryer over the drum head after it's been secured. This will ensure the hide shrinks into the desired permanent tension. Leave to cool after applying heat.
Your kalangu drum is now ready for use!