Gagá instruments: Drums

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The main instruments that accompany gagá ceremonies are "palos" or drums. The largest of the drums is the "congo," a single-headed, animal--usually goat--skin drum. The frame is bored out of various types of hardwood and the head is stretched over the top and tightened/tuned with pegs and/or strings. It is played with both hands and secured between the legs. The second drum usually heard in gagá ceremonies is of the two-headed variety and is called the "catalié." The heads are tightened by rope as well. It is played with either one or two sticks and is placed across the lap of the drummer.

a gag'g drummer with two congó drums.
a gagá drummer shown with metal guiro. Native to the Dominican Republic, the guiro is the fundamental scraper found in other genres such as bachata and merengue. Scrapers and other like metallophones are also characteristic of rará ceremonies, however only in the Dominican Republic do we find such usage of the guiro.
a gagá drummer marching.
Congó drums shown with pegs.