The transatlantic slave trade brought many Africans with a rich heritage of musical knowledge to the Caribbean. Over time, African rhythms synthesized with Spanish folk music, sparking innovations in rhythmic accompaniment, as well as the design of new instruments, such as the bongó (an idiophonic hand percussion instrument of the membranophone family).
It is likely that bongos originated in the Cuban province of Oriente, where Afro-Cuban musical traditions had a strong foothold in the late 19th century (Read more on this history here). You may notice some resemblance between the bongo and certain traditional drums of Africa such as the talking drum and the djembe... There is also a resemblance between bongos and Bantu drums with open bottoms from Africa. What's more, Ethnomusicologist Fernando Ortiz Fernández has suggested that the Spanish word bongó may evolved (at least in part) from the Bantu word mgombo (meaning drum).
While much of the origin of this drum remains a mystery, it seems likely that two large Cuban bokú drums were tied together and slung over the knee to create the first bongo. From this evolved the bongó del monte, an older and larger form of bongos that are still played today in changüí ensembles of Eastern Cuba. A further evolution of the instrument brought us the small and portable bongos, with a high pitch to contrast nicely with larger drums such as congas and timbales in Afro-Cuban ensembles.
These smaller bongos (being so portable) traveled a bit further. Even a ban by the Cuban government in 1929 on bongos and other drums couldn't stop the rising popularity of the instrument. By the 1940s, bongos had found their way from Cuba to the United States. It wasn't long before the bongos became a popular drum all over the world!
THE SOUND OF THE BONGOS
By the mid-20th century, bongo drums could also be found in Latin jazz and salsa in New York and other major cities. Today, they can be found in a wide variety of musical contexts... Here are a few videos featuring influential bongoceros for your viewing and listening pleasure:
- Johnny "Dandy" Rodríguez
- José Luis Quintana "Changuito"
- Cándido Camero
- Armando Peraza
- Jack Costanzo “Mr. Bongo”
- Miguel "Angá" Diaz
LEARNING TO PLAY THE BONGOS
Bongos are a pair of two cylindrical, open-bottomed drums joined by a wooden or metal bridge. The smaller macho (6-7" male drum) and the larger hembra (7.5-8.5" female drum) are generally held between the knees while seated. Both drums are designed to produce a crisp, bright, articulate sound when struck. Due to the smaller size, the macho drum is higher in pitch, while the larger hembra drum is lower in pitch. You'll find bongos in son cubano and salsa ensembles, although they have made their way into many other musical genres over the years, including jazz and rock and countless others.
When playing the bongos, they sit between the knees with the hembra on the side of the bongocero's dominant hand. Some examples of bongo playing techniques include: striking the drum near the edge with a relaxed grip to produce a ringing open tone; striking and resting the fingers on the drum head for a muted slap; and fingertip taps for intricate fast rhythms. More advanced players can incorporate rolls, syncopation, cross-hand playing, and more!
Here are a few good tutorials we'd recommend for getting started:
SHOPPING FOR BONGOS
Generally, the bongo's shell is constructed in one of three ways. With stave construction, wooden slats are glued together in a way that produces a warm resonant tone favored by traditional Latin percussionists. Other times the shell may be turned on a lathe out of one solid block of wood, helping to enhance projection and sustain. Many modern bongo drums often have fiberglass shells, increasing durability with a brighter and consistent tone (many more details here).
Bongo drumheads are made of rawhide (typically calfskin), but this can be susceptible to changes in humidity and temperature, so synthetic heads have become a popular choice. Even before synthetic drum heads were available, some Cuban bongoceros were known to repurpose X-ray scans as drum heads for the smaller and brighter macho drum. Historically the skins were attached to the shell with metal tacks around the edge, but now there are more sophisticated tuning lugs available on most bongos.
When it comes to shopping bongos, there are a plethora of options. Beginner models are often made with cheaper wood shells and durable synthetic heads, great for casual play. Professional models are usually made with premium hardwoods and rawhide heads, with precision tuning. Both varieties have their merits, and if you're an avid percussionist, it's a wonderful portable instrument to have in your collection.
Click here to view our online collection of Bongos
Happy drumming!