Bomba

Generally considered to be derived from West Africa, bomba is a form of percussive music from Puerto Rico. Bombas typically start with a lone female voice (laina), followed by a response from a chorus and the musicians. The main part of a bomba then involves a challenge between dancers and drummers. This is led by the dancers who take it in turns to challenge the drums with their movements, which the musicians respond to along with the laina and chorus. The primary instruments are the drums (buleador and subidor), the palitos (cuá or sometimes fuá), and a single maracas.