Conga

Conga is a drum, a type of music, and a type of dance (Conga Line).

Conga drum

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.

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.

Origin

Congas were derived from the Congolese Makuta drums). It was initially made from hollowed logs with goathide nailed or strung on, and used by religious groups.

Genres

It is used in salsa music, as well as many other forms of music around the world.

See also

• Caribbean music
• La Conga Nights (1940 film)
• Kickin' the Conga Round (1942 animation)

External links

• Comic example of a conga dance