Cajon: The History of the Beat Box Drum

The cajon has been, since the 19th century, a key component in traditional Afro-Peruvian music. Named with the Spanish word for “box,” the cajon was first invented to replace the African drums used by slaves in colonial Peru, which were eventually banned by the slaves’ masters. The first examples of the cajon were extremely simple, consisting merely of empty wooden fruit crates or even upside-down drawers — anything that could be harnessed to the rhythm of the music. As the cajon matured, it became an accepted and integral part of the instruments used to play the “creole waltz,” or vals criollo. Today, the cajon is a beloved symbol of Peru’s national heritage, and the instrument is a must-have for every group that performs traditional Peruvian folk music.

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