Within Cuban history, that of musical instruments stands out, dating from the beginning of its founding by the Spanish. Not only were the drums made by Afro-Cubans and Creoles (which were used in the religious liturgies of the former and in the popular orchestras of the latter), it was also found that the natives already had their instruments.
Besides of "Mayohuacan»- which is the hollowed-out drum without patches or membrane - and some« sound olives », the« guamos or trunks of the snail called Cobo (Strombus Gigans), as well as stone and ceramic whistles and even a small flute made from a bone of bird, highlighted the maraca.
Historians point to two classifications: the aboriginal and the Cuban. Of the Indo-Cubans, he says that it is "formed by two stems of magüey - thus with umlauts - (plant, also called Pita), attached, containing small stones inside. Of the one he names Cuban, he says that "she is not a native of Cuba, since she belongs to the universal maraquera family (...) The West Indian Indians sounded them in their music."
The chronicles said that maracas «are dry güiras that can be oval or round and a handle is added to them to handle them better. When they prepare to make a strong and serious sound, olive seeds are put inside them, and when they want soft sounds they are put inside pellets or small seeds ».
In the Taíno tribes it could only be used by the behique, priest or sorcerer, to 'communicate with deities that brought him prosperity' "a long time later they are used as rhythmic instruments in the typical orchestras, being indispensable in the Rumbas, Congas, Boleros and Guarachas (…) The sound that should be extracted from them is the same as that made by the timpani when it is struck from the sides ”, the scholars point out.
