This article is about the musical style. For the Polish device for breaking the Enigma, see Bomba (cryptography).
Bomba is one of Puerto Rico's most famous musical styles. Although there is some controversy surrounding its origin, most agree that it is a purely African music. The rhythm and beat are played by a set of west African drums called congas. Dance is an integral part of the music: the dancers in move their bodies to every beat of the drum, making bomba a very wild and rich dance. Bomba is described to be a challenge between the drummer and the dancer. The drummer will beat the drums and the dancer is to dance as fast as the drummer is beating the drum. The dancer must be in great physical shape to keep up and the challenge usually continues until either the dancer or drummer discontinues. The main instrument used in bomba style music are low pitched bomba drums which usually supports the rhythm of bomba music called the buleador. Other instruments used are the palitos or clave, which are sticks that are struck together to form the sound similar to a cowbell, and one maraca. A guiro are also heard in many bomba songs, which are instruments created and used by the Taino Indians of the Caribbean Basin.
The music style was brought to Puerto Rico during the colonial slave trade. It originates in Ghana, West Africa, although the majority of slaves can be traced back to 31 different areas of West and Central Africa. The dance was mostly practiced at the northern, southern and western coasts of the island where the majority of Africa's descendants lived. The dance was used to mock the slave owners. The men used to use a series of pelvic thrusts while the women would swish their skirts around. The traditional clothing for Bomba for men was a white outfit and fedora hat. The women wore big plantation skirts, Santerķa beads (of Yoruba origin), and a head scarf or bundaloo.
Other bomba styles are named for the type of dance it is associated with, such as the bomba Holandes or the leró, which is a French derivative of the word "rose", referencing the formation of the dancers that symbolized a rose.
The excitement and sensual tension in the music is generated by the often improvised interactions of the singer and chorus, the drummers' rhythmic exchanges, and the suggestive "conversation" between the highest pitched drum and the dancer.
Bomba and plena continue to be present in the cultural life of Puerto Rico, and are symbolic to the Puerto Rican identity.
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