Bongos
A pair of small, joined Cuban hand drums of different sizes.
What it means
Bongos are a pair of small, single-headed Cuban drums joined together and held between the knees while playing. The larger drum is called the hembra (female), the smaller, higher-pitched one the macho (male).
They emerged in eastern Cuba in the late nineteenth century and became popular through genres such as son cubano, from which salsa later developed.
Musical use
Bongos are played entirely with the fingers and palms, never with sticks. A characteristic pattern called the martillo, alternating between the two heads, underlies the accompaniment in many Afro-Cuban styles.
Bongos differ from the larger congas in size, playing posture, and role: congas are often played standing and provide bass-carrying lines, while bongos usually take on more virtuosic, ornamental parts.