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Cultural Origins of Drumming: Part 7 - Uruguayan Candombe

Written by: Claris Lam

Jun 3, 2025

Introduction

What are the origins of drum circles? Drumming has deep cultural roots in many parts of the world. In our previous articles, we discussed the African, Indigenous American, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Roman origins of drumming. This article will cover the Candombe drumming traditions of Uruguay.




Historical Origins of Candombe

The origins of Candombe began back in the 18th century, when descendants of enslaved Africans were brought to Montevideo. Montevideo was a major slave-trade at the time. The first African slaves arrived in 1750, and large numbers of Africans were trafficked there for the next 60 years by the English and the Spanish. Slavery was abolished in 1846, and all men received the right to vote regardless of race.


The former slaves’ African culture was suppressed by the Spanish, but they and their descendants communicated with each other through drumming. This practice soon became known as Candombe, and their drumming patterns are named after age-old families, the Alsinas and the Cuareim, from the Barrio Sur and Palermo neighbourhoods where the former slave district of Montevideo is located.


It was not just the Spanish that tried suppressing Candombe, however. Upper-class white residents also tried banning Candombe gatherings during the 1800s, with one of the earliest historical documents tracing Candombe music being an 1808 police record where citizens requested the suppression and prohibition of these dances. In response, the Afro descendants took their music underground.


Candombe faded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries but found a new home in these communal living spaces. In the late 1970s, this was cleared by the military dictatorship to make the center of Montevideo more attractive. Candombe was designated as part of world cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2009.


Candombe Drummer (image source)
Candombe Drummer (image source)

Instruments Used In Candombe

When playing Candombe, musicians use three barrel-shaped drums called tamboriles. Tamboriles are made of wood with an animal skin head. These instruments are tuned in front of a fire to absorb the moisture from inside the body of the drums. The smallest of these three drums is called the chico, the medium-sized drum is the repique, and the largest drum of the three is called the piano. A group of three or more drummers playing together is called a cuerda,. The larger the drum, the lower the pitch it has and the larger the stick used to play the drum.


The tamboriles are played “mano y palo.” This technique involves using one bare hand and a stick in the other hand when drumming. Players use the stick to play the underlying groove of Candombe music, which is called the clave rhythm. Musicians pass down the rhythms for playing the tamboriles and the clave rhythm orally.


Candombe Ensemble (image source)
Candombe Ensemble (image source)

Modern Uses For Candombe

Candombe can be heard throughout Montevideo every year during Carnaval, which lasts from mid-January to late February. While Brazil’s six-day Carnaval is one of the best known Carnaval events, Uruguay’s Carnaval lasts up to 40 days.


During Carnaval, groups of drummers fill the streets with their complex beats and colorful costumes. A cuerda, which is a group of at least three drummers, must have at least one performer of each of the three tamboriles. But during Carnaval, up to 70 performers can be seen playing each type of drum! These large groups come together to form neighborhood comparsas, which are established groups of drummers that audition and practice throughout the year in preparation for Carnaval. During Carnaval, the comparsas take to the streets dressed in matching costumes.



Conclusion

Candombe began its roots in keeping African traditions alive during a time when African slaves and their culture were suppressed. However, this transformed into a tradition of celebration and resilience in the present day that everyone can participate in. Despite its changes, however, the core of Candombe drumming remains as a celebration of culture, communication, and celebration.




Published June 3, 2025


References

  • "What is Candombe?" Guru'Guay. Link

  • "How the Complex Rhythms of Colonialism Created One of Uruguay's Most Celebrated Musical Traditions." WFMT. Link

  • "Uruguay: Spirit of Afro Resistance Alive in Candombe." Upside Down World. Link


Media Sources


About the Author

Claris Lam

Claris is passionate about making grand ideas accessible to a wider audience. She has written articles about emerging environmental technology and research, lifestyle, studying, and career advice, and anime and manga for several organizations including Sustainable Waterloo Region (SWR), TalentEgg, and Comic Book Resources (CBR). When she’s not writing informative articles, you can find her playing the piano, pipe organ or violin, writing new fiction and poetry books as an indie author and poet, or reading.


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