Music Sound

A pair of congas

The conga is not only a type of drum, but in fact, a Afro-Cuban dance. The famous Afro-Cuban dance entitled the Conga is a “mixer” type dance. The Conga can be danced solo, in a group, or as a couple, but it is most common for it to be danced facing each other falling into a single file line (boy, girl, boy, girl).

The conga is a tall narrow single-headed Cuban drum of African origin, probably derived from the Congolese Makuta drums. Although ultimately derived from African drums made from hollowed logs, in its Cuban incarnation, the conga is staved, like a barrel, and they probably were originally made from salvaged barrels. It was used both in Afro-Caribbean religious music and as the principal instrument in Rumba.

The name "conga" was coined in New York, USA in the 1950's, when Cuban Son music and New York jazz fused together to create salsa.

Modern congas have a staved wooden shell, or fiberglass shell, and a screw-tensioned drumhead. They are usually played in sets of two to four with the fingers and palms of the hand. From smallest to largest diameter, the drums are the nino (25 cm), the quinto (28 cm), the conga, seguidor or tres golpes (30 cm), and the tumbadora or salidor (33 cm). Modern congas stand approximately 75 cm. from the bottom of the shell to the head, and the player either plays seated, or the drums are mounted on a rack or stand to permit the player to stand. Congas are now very common in Afro-Latin music, including salsa music, as well as many other forms of American popular music.

Conga players are called rumberos, while conguero refers to those who dance following the path of the players.

In Cuba, the congas are known as "tumbadoras", and two sizes are used: the "macho" (male) and the "hembra" (female). When more than two drums are used, it is usually one macho and several hembras tuned to different pitches. At the same time, the first conga is called "tumba" and it is followed by the quinto or repicador and the tres or marcador.

Popular history in Cuba claims that the name “conga” first came to light during the processions cabildos held dancing and chanting on the streets during orishas celebrations. The popular commentaries referred to them as the congos and from there the name conga.

There are five basic strokes:

• Open tone: played with the four fingers near the rim of the head, producing a clear resonant tone with a distinct pitch.
• Muffled tone: like the open tone, is made by striking the drum with the four fingers, but holding the fingers against the head to muffle the tone (which combined with the first is called the tumbao, played in must salsa and rumbas today).
• Bass tone: played with the full palm on the head. It produces a low muted sound.
• Slap: most difficult technique producing a loud clear "popping" sound (when played at fast and short intervals is called floreo, played to instill emotions on the dancer).
• Touch: as implied by the name, this tone is produced by just touching the fingers or heel of the palm to the drum head.

Historically, the drum was the connection between the deities and the human body, where the player stimulated the spirits to enter the dancer's body.

Famous players

Jose Luis Quintana "Changuito"
Giovanni Hidalgo
Carlos Patato Valdez
Candido Camero
Poncho Sanchez