ABSTRACT
Prior to looking at the influence that Africans have had on Cuban music, it is also important to recognise that Africans on the island also encountered people indigenous to the island. In Cuba, there were different groups called the cabildos; these were social groups made up of African people on the island. Music is fundamental to the spiritual practice of the Santeros, including the making of herbal medicine, divination, prayer and other ceremonies. There are three different sizes of báta drums: a large drum called the iya, which has bells along the rim of the drum, a medium-sized drum called the itotele and the smallest drum called the okonkolo. For more ritualistic performances, these drums are consecrated before they are played, which means that they are prayed upon and determined sacred. There are public performances called Torque de Santo that last around four hours.
