Bomba is an entertainment form and is generally performed at social gatherings. It is a couple dance. Originally the woman performs relative fixed dance steps while the partner exhibits his dancing skills. This time or in the later years of the BOMBA either of the dancers can display their dancing skills, while competing with the "requintador" or "primo" (the lead drummer), as the drummer responds to the dance steps. The bomba ensemble consists of cuá (pair of sticks struck on the side of a drum or some other hard resonant surface), which provides a fixed rhythm pattern (time line) around which the other instrument are organized; one or two "seguidoras" (low-pitched barrel-shaped drums), which provides a fixed supporting rhythm; and "requinto" (higher pitched barrel-shaped drums), which plays changing rhythmic patterns within the rhythmic structure of the "seguidoras" and "cuá."

Listen to the sounds:

• Bomba - Sica: cua, seguidora, requinto?(solo)
• Bomba - Yuba 6/8: seguidora
• Bomba - Holandes: seguidora?(on congas) The Rumba of the Bomba

Bomba texts are usually on topical themes relating to everyday life in the community, such as social relationships, work, and historical events. The musical form of Bomba consists of alternation between solo singer and chorus in a call-and-response pattern. The soloist, having the textual and melodic freedom, presents the main themes of the text, while the chorus is restricted to a fixed response.

Plena began as a street music, however, as it move to the bars and nightclubs, it came to be associated with night life and underworld. It is very much a part of the musical heritage of the African countries. Like Bomba, Plena is a couple dance, but the dancers and the drummer do not display the competitive interaction that they do in Bomba.

The Plena ensemble may consist of various combinations of instruments, but the minimum requirement is two "seguidoras," one "requinto," one "guiro" and either harmonica or accordion. A guitar when included provides harmonic accompaniment. Plena texts are on comtemporary or historic events and are in a stanzaic verse-refrain structure.