The Lotfy Process is our signature method of creating incredible Mother of Pearl designs on our Darbukas. Invented in 1978 by Abdel-Nasser Lotfy.
AN IDEA IS BORN
In 1978, with almost 40 years of experience manufacturing cast aluminium Darbukas, Abdel-Nasser Lotfy started experimenting with using Mother of Pearl overlay to create an incredible coloured design over the Darbuka.
EXPERT CRAFTSMANSHIP
Each drum required approximately 2 kg of Mother of Pearl, which had to be hand-cut to precise sizes. Factors like color matching and thickness were crucial in transforming the raw material into a beautiful Darbuka design.
TWO DECADES OF CUSTOM BUILDS
Each drum needed about 2 kg of hand-cut Mother of Pearl, with careful attention to color matching and thickness essential for creating a beautiful Darbuka design.
STRUGGLES UPON STRUGGLES
The process was difficult. Incredibly so. While the Mother of Pearl had been used before to apply overlays to other musical instruments, it was especially difficult to create these designs on a Darbuka.
A FINISHED PRODUCT
After 3 years of experiments, the Mother of Pearl Darbuka was born. The first of its kind, and a product that would change the Darbuka world forever.
