Bongos: The Iconic Afro-Cuban Drums 

Percussion instruments help to add the groove to music that makes the music lover bop their heads. When it comes to the most popular percussion instruments, Bongos stays at the top list due to its iconic sound and global popularity. Bongos are considered to be the heart and soul of African and Cuban music. Both of the regional music cultures embrace their traditional drumming skills with distinctive flavors. Afro-Cuban music is currently at the top of global music charts and bongos are a major part of it. Let’s find out more about these hand drums which are considered to be an essential part of Latin and jazz music.

Structure

The bongos are comprised of two small conical drums which help to produce that sharp sound. The drums are connected to each other with a wooden block or a metal bridge. While one end of the drums is covered with a stretched membrane, the other side is kept open to let sound resonate through the air. One of the drums is named the hembra (referred to as female) which is mainly the bigger one. The smaller is called Macho (referred to as male).

Traditionally the bongo shells are made from oak wood while the membrane is made from raw animal hide. Modern bongos also use wood for the shell but it can also consist of synthetic skin instead of animal. The metal hardware elements include tuning rings, lugs, bearing edges, and the central bridge. The bongos are always played together and never separated. The size of the bongos can range from small to medium based on the bongoceros, the musicians who play bongos. Usually, it is sized between 15 to 22 cm but children can find 12 cm sized bongos as well.

History 

As mentioned before Bongos have Afro-Cuban roots and it is a significant instrument in Black Cultural History. It was first used among the slaves in Cuba back in the 17th and 18th centuries. Slavery in Cuba ended by the end of the 19th century and there was a hefty influence of African and Latin cultures. They merged to create hybrid percussion instruments which gave birth to the instruments like Bongos and Congas. The Bongos are similar to most other traditional African drums however, their playing style originated in the eastern region of Cuba; the Oriente Province, a birthplace of folk instruments. In the early 1900s, the use of Bongos was spread over the western region of Cuba as well, including Havana and many other places. When Latin and Cuban influences were noticeable in Jazz in the 1930s, bongos traveled to the United States and became an important instrument for American Jazz Music.

Different Types

The dimensions of Bongos remain almost the same however it can vary slightly based on the creators of the instrument. While a lot of modern bongos are made from metal or fiberglass, wooden bongos will be always superior due to their warmer sound. There are main types of bongos used by the music artists.

1. Traditional Bongos

These bongos are mainly used in Afro-Cuban folk music to date. The traditional Changüí bongos or the bongó de monte is a larger version of modern bongos which comes with a lower tune.

2. Compact Bongos

Compact bongos are mainly shell-less versions of the traditional bongos which can be integrated into modern drumkits. It is made with an aluminum alloy base which is lightweight and very compact. It is mainly played with hands but also can be played with sticks.

Modern percussionists also sample the tune of bongos through their electronic drum kits which create more padded and quiet beats.

Playing Techniques

There are mainly four standard strokes to play bongos and the combinations of them are used by the players to produce engaging beats in a composition. They are known as,

    • The Mute Tone

    • The Open tone

    • The Slap Tone

    • The Heel-toe

There are several rhythm patterns like the 'Martillo', and ‘hammer' styles which can help to create a sequence of eight distinct sounds. The versatility of the instrument is perfect for improvisation.

Notable Bongo Legends

There are countless talented Bongo legends in the history of music. Some of the notable Bongo players are,

    • Bobbye hall

    • Chino Cruz de Jesus 

    • Art ‘Turk’ Burton

    • Kevin Ricard

    • Lenny Castro

    • Candido Camero

    • Frank Colón

    • Natasha Rogers

    • Orlando ‘Rolito’ Soto

Bongos are truly one of the most significant instruments in global music and it is going to stay that way forever!