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The History of the Cajon

: CAJ2RO-M

Besides the skin used on the heads of hand drums, there are two other materials used for percussive instruments that have been around as long: clay and wood.

Jugs were made out of clay among other things. These clay drums were called “Udu” in Nigeria or “Ghatam” in India.

The cajon originated from wooden crates that were used for the purpose of transporting food goods such as flour, fish, meat, vegetables and fruits.

Cuba

Because of the lack of drums, poor people and African slaves in Cuba resorted to playing on crates.
The most famous version is Rumba de Cajons, but Afro-Cuban rhythms such as Makuta, Congo and rhythms for Orishas (the gods of the Afro-Cuban religion Santeria) were played on crates too. Originally, the rhythmic instruments of the Rumba consist of a big crate - the Cajon grande, a small quinto-like box - the Cajonita, claves and palitos.Currently, percussion-groups such as the Grupo Yorubaq Andabo and the Conjunto Clave y Guagunco use the Yambu Drum, which correspond in playing and attitude to conventional Congas.

Peru

The Peruvian Cajon was a wood crate, which was used in agriculture for the fruit harvest. The African slaves used these crates as an alternative for drums and created the prototype for what is known as the Cajon. This version of a Cajon is characterised by its inimitable percussive sound. The Cajon is a substantial component of Afro-Peruvian pop-music and of styles similar to this. The most famous artists of Afro-Peruvian music are Susana Baca, Eva Ayllón and Peru Negro among others. Percussionist Alex Acuna from Peru, was responsible for the cajon’s introduction into mainstream culture, as,he,Chick Corea andPaco de Lucia used it for the recording of the “Touchstone” album. Paco de Lucia, one of the first flamenco musicians, introduced the cajon to flamenco, making it a mainstay of his genre.

Although the cajon can be heard in the pop music of today, it should not be forgotten that the cajon has its origins in the African culture in America and the Caribbean.

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