cabaña

Cabaça is the Portuguese name for gourds of several species in the Cucurbitaceae family, most commonly the bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria). The dried, hard-shelled fruit forms a hollow container that has been used for centuries as a vessel, utensil, and craft material. The term is also used in reference to the dried fruit itself, which can be carved, painted, or left plain.

The plant is a climbing annual vine that thrives in warm climates and is cultivated worldwide. When mature, the fruit’s shell is hard and generally inedible; if harvested while green and immature, some varieties can be eaten. Dried cabaças are valued for their light weight, durability, and airtight or watertight potential, and they can be used to make bowls, bottles, ladles, and decorative or ceremonial objects.

Uses and cultural role: Dried cabaças serve as containers for water and food, as musical instrument resonators, and as decorative items in many cultures. In African and Afro-descendant traditions, gourds appear in daily life and ritual objects. In Brazil, the cabaça is a key component of the berimbau, a traditional percussion instrument, where a dried gourd acts as the resonator.

Etymology and varieties: The word cabaça comes from Portuguese and is related to terms for calabash gourds in other languages. Across regions, numerous sizes and shapes exist, reflecting the diverse uses of this versatile fruit.