Meinl Headliner Series Cajon with Mahogany Frontplate  

The Meinl Cajon from the Headliner series delivers the classic cajon sound at an affordable price and can be used in flamenco or world music. For more sound options, the top corners of the box drum can be adjusted, allowing the player to customize the amount of snap desired.

History of the Cajon
Besides the skin used on the heads of hand drums, there are two other materials used for percussive instruments that have been around as long: clay and wood. Jugs were made out of clay among other things. These clay drums were called "Udu" in Nigeria or "Ghatam" in India. The cajon originated from wooden crates that were used for the purpose of transporting food goods such as flour, fish, meat, vegetables and fruits.

In Cuba
Because of the lack of drums, poor people and African slaves in Cuba resorted to playing on crates. The most famous version is Rumba de Cajons, but Afro-Cuban rhythms such as Makuta, Congo, and rhythms for Orishas (the gods of the Afro-Cuban religion Santeria) were played on crates too. Originally, the rhythmic instruments of the Rumba consisted of big crates (Cajones grandes), small quinto-like boxes (Cajonitas), claves, and palitos. Currently, percussion-groups such as the Grupo Yorubaq Andabo and the Conjunto Clave y Guaguancó use the Yambu Drum, which correspond in playing and attitude to conventional Congas.

In Peru
The Peruvian cajon was a wood crate, which was used in agriculture for the fruit harvest. The African slaves used these crates as alternatives for drums and created the prototypes for what is known as the cajon. This version of a cajon is characterized by its inimitable percussive sound. The cajon is a substantial component of Afro-Peruvian pop-music and of styles similar to this. The most famous artists of Afro-Peruvian music are Susana Baca, Eva Ayllón and Peru Negro among others. Percussionist Alex Acuña from Peru, was responsible for the cajon's introduction into mainstream culture as he, Chick Corea, and Paco de Lucia used them for the recording of the Touchstone album. Paco de Lucia, one of the finest flamenco musicians, introduced the cajon to flamenco, making it a mainstay of his genre.

Although the cajon can be heard in the pop music of today, it should not be forgotten that the cajon has its origins in the African culture in America and the Caribbean.