bongo

Bongo refers to two distinct things, the bongo antelope and the bongo drum, both notable in their respective contexts.

Bongo (antelope). The bongo is a large forest-dwelling antelope in the genus Tragelaphus, with Tragelaphus euryceros as the widely recognized species. It has a reddish-brown to chestnut coat accented by vertical white stripes, a white facial buff, and large rounded ears. Males typically grow long, curved horns; females may have smaller horns or none, depending on population. There are two recognized subspecies: the western or lowland bongo and the mountain bongo, which inhabit different forested regions of Central Africa and the Albertine Rift. Bongos are shy, primarily solitary or found in small family groups, and they browse on leaves, shoots, fruit, and bark in dense tropical forests. They rely on keen senses and quick, zigzag movement to avoid predators such as leopards. Reproduction usually results in a single calf after a gestation of about eight to nine months. The species as a whole is listed as Endangered by the IUCN, with the mountain bongo considered Critically Endangered in many assessments. Threats include habitat loss, fragmentation, and poaching, though protected areas and conservation programs work to stabilize populations.

Bongo (drum). The bongo drum consists of two joined barrels of different sizes that produce distinct pitches, commonly used in Afro-C-Cuban music and in various world music genres. The smaller shell, called the macho, and the larger shell, called the hembra, are typically made from wood with animal skin or synthetic heads stretched over each end. Players strike the heads with the hands, producing a high-pitched tone from the smaller drum and a lower tone from the larger one. The instrument originated in West Africa and was adopted and popularized in Cuba, where it became a staple of rumba and other ensembles before spreading to broader musical contexts. Modern bongos may use natural or synthetic skins and are tuned with lugs to achieve stable pitches.