How Do You Play the Bongo Drums and Where Do They Originate From?
The word bongos is often mistakenly used to describe other types of drums such as djembes and congas, however, bongos are actually two separate percussion instruments that are attached to one another. The smaller of the two drums is called the hembra, which is the Spanish word for female, and the larger drum is referred to as the macho, Spanish for male. Although the exact origin of this type of drum cannot be accurately traced, the Atlantic slave trade introduced bongos to Cuba and other areas of the Caribbean, Middle East, and Asia from the continent of Africa. The traditional bongo drums are usually made from wood with rawhide, goatskin, or some other type of animal for the heads of the drums, which are attached to each other with a thick piece of wood. Metal, or other different types of other natural or synthetic materials can also be used. Bongo drums made from ceramics with rawhide heads are most commonly found in places such as Egypt, Asia, and some Middle Eastern countries and
