What is cabassas?

Cabassas are percussion instruments that consist of a hollow gourd or wooden cylinder with a series of metal beads or beans loosely attached to a flexible metal rod. The cabassas are made by wrapping the metal rod with the beads around the gourd or cylinder and then filling the space with beads. They are played by holding the handle and shaking the instrument gently from side to side, causing the beads to strike against the gourd or cylinder.

Cabassas are commonly used in Latin American, African, and Caribbean music and are frequently heard in salsa, merengue, and calypso. They are also often used in jazz and rock music. The sound of the cabassa is similar to that of the maracas and shaker, but with a more focused and precise sound. They are typically used to add texture and rhythm to the music and are often played along with other percussion instruments.