The bongo is a Cuban invention of the late 19th century from the eastern Oriente province, where the son genre first appeared. A pair of small drums (15 and 20 cm in diameter) joined by a short wooden bridge is held between the player's knees — the bongocero.
Unlike the conga, the bongo is played mostly seated, with the body tilted forward slightly. The performer holds the larger drum (hembra) on the right side. The sound is higher, brighter, drier than the conga. The traditional martillo (“hammer”) pattern is the basic rhythm for son and salsa — a rapid sequence of finger and palm strikes.
The bongo's special role in son cubano: the bongocero plays martillo through most of a piece, but during son montuno solo sections switches to the cencerro (Cuban cowbell) for contrast. Masters: José Mangual, Roberto Roena. The bongo is widely used by pop and rock bands — from Santana to contemporary Ukrainian acts (Jamala, Kalush Orchestra).
