Caja: Colombian musical instrument

The caja, a related drum to a tambora, is one of the three main traditional instruments of the vallenato music. Caja the slang word agreed to nickname this drum means “box” in Spanish. Also there is a Caribbean drum called caja, used in the music of Cuba.

source: gianferdinand.devianta...

The African slaves that was brought by the Spanish colonizers came along with tamboras which is now northeastern Colombia most likely derived from Congolese makuta drum Tamboras were first to be adopted by the cumbia musical genre and later make know to Vallenato music. Due to the improvement of technology new makes and models developed the traditional drum into an instruments related in make to a conga.

Traditional: The elliptic cylinder made out of wood and a cow skin stretched over the top wider opening and tightens with rustic ropes just about 12 inches of height.

Modern version: Just like in congas drum but shorter in height, approximately 12 inches. Made from the same wood based but ropes are not used to stretch and hold the skin,  rather a metal frame bolted to the wooden base is used in the holding of the animal skin or X-ray photo radiography made skin.

Vallenato has four different rhythms to which the caja alter to mark the base key: Rubbing and strucking with hand palms. Son, paseo, meringue puya