Have you ever seen a musical instrument that doubles as a seat? Meet the cajon, a drum that is also a stand and a seat, all in one neat box! This simple design has helped the cajon travel across the world, becoming one of the most loved percussion instruments today.
The story of the cajon starts in West Africa, where music and dance were a big part of life. When many Africans were taken to the Americas as slaves, they brought their rich musical traditions with them. However, they didn’t have their traditional instruments, so they had to get creative. In coastal Peru, African slaves didn’t have the materials to make drums like the djembe. Instead, they used shipping crates, which were easy to find and also helped them avoid laws that banned slaves from playing music.
The first cajons were simple boxes with five thick wooden sides. The sixth side was a thinner piece of wood called the tapa, which was used for striking. A hole was cut in the back to let the sound out. As Afro-Peruvian culture grew, new music and dance styles like Zamacueca, Festejo, and Landó appeared, and the cajon became a key instrument.
Over time, people started to tweak the cajon to change its sound. After slavery ended, more people got to know the cajon, leading to even more experimentation. A big moment for the cajon came in 1977 when Spanish Flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía and his percussionist Rubem Dantas discovered it during a tour in Peru. They took the cajon back to Spain and added guitar strings inside the tapa to create a snare-like sound. This made the cajon sound a bit like a drum set, perfect for Flamenco music.
Today, the cajon is popular in many music styles, including Flamenco, folk, jazz, blues, and rock. There are many types of cajons now, some with adjustable strings, different playing surfaces, and snare mechanisms. But no matter how fancy they get, the basic idea stays the same. The story of the cajon shows us that even the simplest things can become amazing when you use your imagination!
Gather materials like cardboard boxes, rubber bands, and tape to create a simple version of a cajon. Decorate your cajon and experiment with different ways to produce sounds. Share your creation with the class and discuss how the materials you used affect the sound.
Explore Afro-Peruvian music and dance styles such as Zamacueca, Festejo, and Landó. Work in groups to create a short performance that incorporates these rhythms and dances. Present your performance to the class and explain how the cajon contributes to the overall sound.
Choose a music genre where the cajon is commonly used today, such as Flamenco, jazz, or rock. Research how the cajon is used in that genre and create a presentation to share with the class. Include audio or video examples to illustrate your points.
Experiment with different materials to see how they affect the sound of a cajon. Try using different types of wood, adding strings, or changing the size of the sound hole. Record your findings and present them to the class, explaining how each modification changes the sound.
Create a timeline that traces the history of the cajon from its origins in West Africa to its global spread. Include key events, such as its introduction to Flamenco music. Use images and short descriptions to make your timeline engaging and informative.
Many modern musical instruments can be cumbersome or have many parts. Some require a stand or a stool. However, the cajon is a drum, a stand, and a seat all in one convenient box. This simplicity may be key to its journey across continents and cultures, leading it to become one of the most popular percussion instruments in the world today.
The cajon’s story begins in West Africa, where Indigenous people had rich musical traditions centered on drumming and dancing. When many were captured and brought to the Americas as slaves, they carried this culture with them, but without their native instruments, they had to improvise. African slaves in coastal Peru lacked the materials and opportunities to craft traditional drums like the djembe or djun djun. Instead, they used readily available shipping crates, which also helped them navigate laws prohibiting slaves from playing music.
Early Peruvian cajons consisted of a simple box with five thick wooden sides. The sixth side, made of a thinner sheet of wood, served as the striking surface, commonly known as the tapa. A sound hole was cut into the back to allow the sound to escape. As Afro-Peruvian culture developed, new forms of music and dance, such as Zamacueca, Festejo, and Landó, emerged, and the cajon became a dedicated musical instrument.
Early modifications involved bending the planks of the box to adjust the sound. When the abolition of slavery introduced the cajon to a broader audience, more experimentation followed. One of the key figures in introducing the cajon to European audiences was Spanish Flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía. During a tour in Peru in 1977, he and his percussionist Rubem Dantas discovered the cajon and brought it back to Spain, recognizing its potential for Flamenco music. By stretching guitar strings along the inside of the tapa, Flamenco musicians created a buzz-like snare sound, which, combined with the regular bass tone, gave the cajon a sound similar to a basic drum set.
The cajon quickly gained popularity, becoming standard in Flamenco and being used in genres like folk, jazz, blues, and rock. Today, many specialized cajons are manufactured, some with adjustable strings, multiple playing surfaces, and snare mechanisms. However, the basic concept remains the same, and the story of the cajon shows that the simplest things can have amazing potential when you think creatively.
Cajon – A box-shaped percussion instrument originally from Peru, played by slapping the front or rear faces with the hands. – During the music class, the teacher demonstrated how to play the cajon by tapping different rhythms on its surface.
Music – An art form and cultural activity whose medium is sound, organized in time. – The students learned about the history of music and how it has evolved over the centuries.
Africa – A continent known for its rich musical heritage, influencing many modern music genres. – The rhythms and melodies from Africa have greatly influenced jazz and blues music.
Peru – A country in South America known for its diverse musical traditions, including the use of the cajon. – In Peru, traditional music often features the cajon as a key instrument in performances.
Slavery – A historical period where people were forcibly taken from Africa and brought to other continents, impacting music through the blending of different cultures. – The music created during the time of slavery often expressed the struggles and hopes of the enslaved people.
Instruments – Tools or devices used to produce musical sounds, such as drums, guitars, and pianos. – The orchestra consisted of a variety of instruments, each contributing to the harmony of the performance.
Culture – The customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group, often reflected in their music. – Music is a vital part of culture, helping to tell stories and preserve traditions.
Flamenco – A passionate and rhythmic music and dance style originating from Spain, often featuring guitar and percussion. – The flamenco performance captivated the audience with its intense rhythms and expressive movements.
Sound – Vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and can be heard when they reach a person’s or animal’s ear. – The sound of the violin filled the concert hall with a beautiful melody.
Creativity – The use of imagination or original ideas to create something, especially in the arts. – The composer’s creativity was evident in the unique and innovative symphony he wrote.
