| Bongo Drums or Bongos are percussion | | | | metal or some other composite material. The |
| instruments that are comprised of two drums | | | | two drums are attached to one another by a |
| attached to each other. One of the drums is | | | | thick piece of wood. The drums head can be |
| bigger than the other and is called a hembra, | | | | made of animal skin or other synthetic |
| which translates from Spanish into English as | | | | material. For the head of the "Macho" (the |
| "Female". The smaller drum is called a Macho, | | | | smaller drum); X-Ray films are sometime used. |
| translated form Spanish as: "Male". A bongo | | | | |
| player is called a Bongocero. | | | | Bongo like drums can be found in Morocco. |
| | | | These drums have ceramic bodies and goatskin |
| The Bongos arrived in South America as a | | | | raw hide for the head. Similar drums are also |
| result of the Atlantic Slave Trade. | | | | found in Middle Eastern countries and Egypt. |
| Originally, Bongos were tacked and tuned with | | | | Bongos are sometimes used as an accompaniment |
| the use of a heat source, but by the late | | | | to the flamenco and other Spanish music. |
| 1940s metal tuning lugs were installed to | | | | Ceramic Bongos are more common in Asia and |
| facilitate easy tuning. By the Middle of the | | | | the Middle east rather that in Africa. Wooden |
| 21st Century, Bongos gained association with | | | | bongos came to the Americas and into Cuba |
| Beatniks, who used them to provide accents | | | | because of the slave trade. |
| when they read poetry. In History, the first | | | | |
| recordings of the Bongos were heard performed | | | | Bongo drums produce a high pitched sound and |
| by groups like the: Sexteto Habanero, Sexteto | | | | are played by placing and holding up the drum |
| Boloña and Septeto Nacional. | | | | in between the knees of the player with the |
| | | | hembra (larger drum) on the right side. |
| The Bongos were most probably derived from | | | | Striking the head with the fingers and the |
| the Abakua Drum Trio: The Bonko. These drums | | | | palms are a traditional way of playing the |
| played a big part in the Abakua religion and | | | | Bongos, although some modern players use |
| are still used until today. If you join these | | | | other instruments like sticks and brushes. A |
| drums with a thick wooden stick, they would | | | | muted sound is achieved form the Bongo by |
| end up looking like the Bongos, as we know | | | | placing one hand on top of the head while the |
| them today. | | | | other is striking it. Bongos can also be |
| | | | placed in stands when they are played with an |
| Bongos can be made of several types of | | | | orchestra and a band. |
| materials. They are most often made of wood, | | | | |