Origins of The Conga
The history of the conga or comparsa conga is obscure and its origins are unknown. In the early 19th century, although the word “conga” is not found in written sources, there are references to “tumbas,” and, according to Brea and Millet (1993:204), tumba refers to the percussion ensemble of the conga. Tumba is mentioned in connection with mamarrachos (summer festivals in Santiago de Cuba) as early as 1847 (Pérez I 1988:54). A word that may be synonymous with tumba is the word tango, mentioned as early as 1856 (Pérez I 1988:79). Unfortunately, most 19th century writers were extremely negative towards Afro-Cuban culture and little information about the tumbas or tangos was recorded.
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“Grown onto every inch of plate, except
Where the hinges let it move, were living things,
Barnacles, mussels, water weeds—and one
Blue bit of polished glass, glued there by time:
The origins of art.”
—Howard Moss (b. 1922)