The drum has its origins in the wilderness of Africa and Cuba. It is likely a descendant of an unknown African drum, which was brought to Cuba by slaves, where it is now known as the Cuban Cajon.
In the 1930s, the conga was given its classic barrel shape and it became internationally famous as a series of recordings have made it to national television in the USA. No one can pinpoint to an exact birth year, but it is thought to have surfaced in the mid-20th century. The sure thing is that it has been unstoppable ever since.