Conga (carnival rhythm)
Conga is a Cuban carnival rhythm . He is worn by the various Comparsa troops on congas with shoulder straps (in the USA, after a role of the singer, actor and producer Desi Arnaz, he is called "ricardo", otherwise called "bocú"), bells or other metal parts such as heels , brake drums or "sartenes" (two small pans nailed to a board with strap to hang around) and bass drums , played. In addition, the Corneta China , a woodwind instrument , is usually played. The different groups have their own songs that are sung along with them.
Originally, the conga was the music of the slaves at festivals such as Carnival, Epiphany or Corpus Christi . In the first years of the republic it was used because of its popularity with political texts for parades in election campaigns. It became popular in the United States in the late 1930s. It was played by bandleaders such as Desi Arnaz and Xavier Cugat , and for a few years it was part of the program of a Hollywood comedy. The “Conga Line” is still the usual substitute for the polonaise in the USA at the appropriate rhythm .
