<P> Vernon Boggs states that the woman's "dancing expertise resides in her ability to entice the male while skillfully avoiding being touched by his vacunao ." </P> <P> Columbia is a fast and energetic rumba, in a triple - pulse (6 8, 12 8) structure, and often accompanied the standard bell pattern struck on a guataca (' hoe blade') or a metal bell . Columbia originated in the hamlets, plantations, and docks where men of African descent worked together . Unlike other rumba styles, columbia is traditionally meant to be a solo male dance . </P> <P> According to Cuban rumba master and historian Gregorio "El Goyo" Hernández, columbia originated from the drum patterns and chants of religious Cuban Abakuá traditions . The drum patterns of the lowest conga drum is essentially the same in both columbia and Abakuá . The rhythmic phrasing of the Abakuá lead drum bonkó enchemiyá is similar, and in some instances, identical to columbia quinto phrases . </P> <P> In Matanzas, the melody of the basic columbia quinto part alternates with every clave . As seen in the example below, the first measure is tone - slap - tone, while the second measure is the inverse: slap - tone - slap . </P>

Salsa retained its afro-cuban core because its first generation musicians were all cuban