Congas
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Conga.jpg
A conga is a tall narrow single-headed Cuban drum (of African origin, derived from the Congolese Makuta drums). It was initially made from hollowed logs with cowhides nailed or strung on, and used by religious groups.
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.
In its current incarnation, it has a fiberglass or wooden 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). Congas are now very common in Latin music.
The congas are played by the conguero.
Congas used in salsa music, as well as many other forms of music.
In Cuba, the congas are known as "tumbadoras", and two sizes are used: the "macho" (male) and the "embra"(female). When more than two drums are used, it is usually one macho and several embras tuned to different pitches.