Bongosero - A “Bongosero” is one who plays a Bongó. Bongo drums or bongos are a percussion instrument made up of two small drums attached to each other, brought to the Caribbean and South America by the African slaves. The drums are of different size, the larger drum is called la hembra (female) and the smaller drum is called el macho (male) The Bongó is played while seated, with the legs bent at about a 90 degree angle. It is held firmly between the knees. The “macho” is positioned at the left knee, and the “hembra” at the right knee. This instrument plays an integral part of the salsa percussion section, and it is not uncommon for many Latinos to have a Bongó somewhere in the home and bring it out at family parties where music is always playing. (See VIDEOS page for a lesson from Poncho Sanchez)

Bongosero – Aquel que toca el bongó. El bongó es un instrumento de percusión en la música latina, heredado de los esclavos Africanos que llegaron al Caribe y Sud América. Son dos tambores pequeños atados, uno más grande (la hembra), y el otro más pequeño, el macho. El bongó se toca mientras sentado, y se coloca entre las piernas al nivel de las rodillas; a un ángulo de 90 grados. Casi todo hogar latino tiene su bongó, que nunca falta en las fiestas.