The history of bongo drumming can be traced to the Cuban music styles known as Changüi and Son. These styles first developed in eastern Cuba (Oriente province) in the late 1800's around the time that slavery was abolished. Initially, the bongo had heads which were tacked and tuned with a heat source. By the 1940's metal tuning lugs were developed to facilitate easier tuning. Some of the first recordings of the bongo can be heard performed by the groups Sexteto Habanero, Sexteto Boloña and Septeto Nacional. These and other early recordings have been reissued on several record labels including Tumbao and Corason.

Mr. Victor "Papo "Sterling, an avid bongocero and OMO AÑA sworn bata player (some of his work can be heard on the Recording "Santissimo" by Emilio Barretto & Orlando "Puntillo" Rios) states: "It's believed that Bongos as we know them today evolved from the Abakua Drum trio "bonko" and it's lead drum "Bonko Enchemi" These drums are still a fundamental part of the Abakua Religion in Cuba, which is still only accessible to the Initiates. Even today, these drums look much like the bongos we know, if they were joined with a wooden peck in the middle." 

More research is underway. Can the bongos be traced back to Africa? What is the relationship between the Afro Cuban bongos and the ceramic Morroccan bongos? If you have information on these or other relevent subjects, please contribute to this site.