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Tumba
Francesa`s Drums
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 Drums
of Tumba Francesa are hand-played percussion instruments
bursting forth into a pulsating beat accompaining the lively dance
and song style from a social-musical group under the same name brought
to Cuba by Haitian slaves, well-known as Franceses at the end of XVIII
century.
They are crafted from a single piece of hollowed wood and ornamented
with carved and painted motifs. Each drum boasts a proper name, chimed
at both hands. Their names are premier or redublé, second and
bulá o bebé, catá cantora, chachá or maruga.
Tumba Francesa`s dancing steps and dances are babú,
grasimá, jubá, masón. Parties of Tumba Francesa
are protected by virgins and saints, placing in the walls Cuban
illustrious patriots`s photos, some of them attended these parties
before going to war. Moreover, these houses were right places for
conspiration. Tumba Francesa was not only a musical phenomenon
but also a social event.
Nowadays, drums of Tumba Francesa are still alive in Santiago
de Cuba and Guantánamo -eastern zone of the country-, although
it`s been said there have been tumba at some other urban zones.
Source: Dictionary of Cuban Popular Music.
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