When was the cajon invented

Another said it was the Kru Liberian sailors who were not only free during much of the slave trade, but who gained knowledge of rectangular drums while sailing back and forth on slave ships to the Americas. A third repeated something his grandfather had told him: that during the 18th to early 19th Centuries, box drums were introduced to the Gold Coast present-day Ghana by repatriating slaves who passed through West Africa on their way back to Cameroon.

Some songs accompanying the gome drum tell those stories. But all three acknowledged that while their box drums had natural skins for a playing surface, the first completely wooden cajons seem to have come from South America. When it comes to drums and drumming, the roads usually point back to Africa. But in this case, the roads all lead to the Americas where the cajon developed and, like a conversation, came back to Africa, where it has undergone its own evolution.

Today the cajon is one of the most popular, accessible, and visible drums worldwide. Every year there are new versions pocket cajons, bongo cajons, collapsible cajons, turbo cajons, electronic cajons , as well as accessories that are driving innovation and the ways in which this drum is played — for example, cajon brushes, pedals, seats, ports, microphone pickups — even sound effects that can be attached to the cajon itself. Most major brands have dozens of cajons to satisfy nearly any niche.

Other companies, such as LP, Tycoon, and Pearl, import a majority of their drums from Asia, where they are able to develop beyond current traditions. But take a peek at a few of my favorite boutique brands, including De Gregorio and La Rosa, both from Spain; Schlagwerk from Germany; and some outstanding American drum makers that include Swan, Sol, Kotz, Kopf, and the venerable Fat Congas brand, which we hear is making a comeback.

These are just a few, for there are likely cajon makers in your own backyard who have their own variation of this immensely popular drum. Founded in by Peruvian musician Rafael Santa Cruz, the International Cajon Festival is an annual event in Lima, Peru that celebrates the cajon with performances, masterclasses, video screenings, and conferences.

In they set a Guinness World Record with more than 3, people playing the cajon together in an unlikely ensemble comprised of 1, prisoners, hundreds of local amateur and professional players, and other cajon aficionados from all over the world. Organizers estimate that more than 40, players have attended this festival to date. So just how did the cajon emerge as one of the fastest-growing percussion instruments?

Compared to the sophistication of a drum set, a cast B20 bronze cymbal, or a stave-constructed conga drum, the cajon is accessible to musicians, to craftsmen, and your pocketbook alike. Cajons are cool. And versatile. In recent times, the instrument has found its way into many musical genres in countries around the globe. In turn, its growing popularity has yielded an abundance of resources for an increasing number of cajon students and enthusiasts seeking information, instruction, and instruments for sale.

Many stories can also be found in Cuba about how cajons can be used as musical instruments by the marginalized masses. The clever Cubans began to make drums from fruit boxes and other crude materials that one might find on any street.

When the police arrived they would only find well behaved citizens sitting atop their fruit boxes and looking for work. In the early s, the Spanish embassy in Lima, Peru hosted a party for Paco de Lucia, at which they had a traditional Peruvian band perform utilizing the cajon.

Flamenco music comprises many different rhythms which are normally played by the guitar player striking the body of the guitar. Consequently, Paco de Lucia took the cajon with him back to Spain. The bass box drum is large enough to sit on and is played with the palm, fist and fingers. It was originally a crate from shipping cod fish in Havana.

The middle drum is played with spoons and was originally a box from church candles. The solo drum started as a desk drawer but has evolved into a specialized box made for this purpose. Barrie, Ontatio Canada p.