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The Botijuela

The botijuela is a container made from yellow clay with an opening at the neck. In the past, the botijuela was used to transport oil from Spain or to carry milk in Cuba. A hole is carved onto one side of the container where the musician places his mouth and blows in order to produce a low sound resembling that of the double bass. Older blacks from Cuba refer to the botijuela as the "bunga." In order to extract the sound, the musician holds the botijuela with his left hand while supporting its neck in his right and blowing into the hole on its side.

Translated by Maureen Turner from Historia de la Música Cubana by Elena Perez Sajurjo

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