The earliest known photograph of Sexteto Habanero (1920), legendary Cuban son group. These guys helped popularize the genre, which began in late 19th century Oriente, to the entirety of the island and abroad. Son combined African-derived percussion and style with Spanish and Cuban instruments (while also picking up on Spanish lyrical forms derived from Spain). The tres was played in a thoroughly 'Afro-Cuban' style, while the bongo, a Cuban invention, was clearly modeled on African drums (the concept of a gendered pair). So, we have tres, clave, bongo, guitar, maracas, the sonero, and an assortment of bass instruments that varied with the time and place of these son groups (marimbula, a Cuban bass instrument modeled on African sanza, botija, and the European bass). Soon, horn instruments were added and we're on our way to son montuno, mambo, and salsa. For examples, check out this, this, and this. Ned Sublette's excellent book on Cuban music has been invaluable for informing this post, by the way.
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