The cajones de rumba are wooden boxes used as rhythmic
percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a percussion mallet, beater including attached or enclosed beaters or Rattle (percussion beater), rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or ...
s in some styles of Cuban rumba. There are different types of cajones, namely the ''cajón tumbadora'', the ''cajón bajo'' and the ''cajita'', all of which are hand-struck.
Cajones arrived to the docks of
Matanzas
Matanzas (Cuban ; ) is the capital of the Cuban province of Matanzas Province, Matanzas. Known for its poets, culture, and Afro-American religions, Afro-Cuban folklore, it is located on the northern shore of the island of Cuba, on the Bay of Mat ...
and
Havana
Havana (; ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.tumbadora and the small ones corresponded to the modern quinto (the smallest, lead conga drum). The equivalent of claves were two wooden spoons. Although cajones were mostly replaced by tumbadoras by the early 20th century, they are played in contemporary styles such as guarapachangueo. In this regard, Pancho Quinto is a notable crafter and player of the instrument. Miguel "Angá" Díaz often played the cajón as well.
See also
* Cajón - Afro-Peruvian instrument similar to the Cuban cajón
* Cajón de tapeo - Mexican version of the cajón