Where did the bongo originate?

Bongos originated in Cuba around the late 19th century and were created for Latin American dance bands. During this time, bongos were most prevalent in eastern Cuba in a style of Cuban music called Changui and Son.

Changui and Son developed after slavery was abolished in eastern Cuba. Bongos originally were tacked and tuned with a heat source up until the 1940s, after which metal lugs made tuning easier and more efficient. The Abakua religion in Cuba still uses the bongos for religious purposes. Afro-Caribbean rhythms influenced jazz and dance music around the world in the early 20th century. After this influence, bongos gained popular recognition.