Ethnographic atlas of Cuba

Bala: Wooden shaft with an iron tip in the form of a bullet, and a cord used to capture sharks, white marlins (Tetrapterus albidus) and other similar species.

Ball de bastons or Ball rodo: One of the dances performed in the first decades of the 20th century by immigrants of Catalonian descent. It is characterized by the rhythm obtained by hitting sticks, with which various dance figures are made.

Bande mardigras: Musical and dance groups that took to the streets in Haiti during the Mardi Gras or Carnival. According to some informants from the provinces of Ciego de Avila and Camagüey, they appeared sporadically in Cuba.

Bande rará: Group with festive and ritual elements organized in Holy Week. The structure of the group is similar to that of the colonial cabildos on the Day of the Magi: the queen, premier et deuxieme drapeaux (the first and second standard-bearers), cobei (the treasurer and president), deuxieme president (the vice- president), centinelle (the sentinel), lame (a kind of choreographer), the queen reposé and the ros diable, among others. The comisie is the instrument ensemble playing for the bande rará.

Barrio: (Borough): Administrative division in every city or town. Barrios were divided into rural and urban, that is, those forming part of the cities and those that are far from them, as independent villages or hamlets. They were represented by alcaldes de barrio (aldermen).

Batá: Drums with two membranes and a shape similar to that of an hourglass. The different diameters of the drumheads give six different tones. The instrument hangs from the neck of the musician or is placed on his lap. Each drumhead is struck with a different hand. Drumheads are tied with straps running from one to the other to form a tight net around the drum by transversal hide strips wound to the sound box. There are three bata drums and they are called, from the largest to the smallest: Iyá, Itótele and Okónkolo.

Batey: Clean and flat place, like a square, that the aborigines used for their chants and dances (areítos) and to play ball games (batos). With time, the word was used to identify the economic and dwelling complexes that sprung around the sugar mills. Rural dwellings built for the sugar agricultural workers in the sugarcane estates after the abolition of slavery, at a moment when a concentration of this industry was taking place, were also called bateyes. In the census classification still in force, concentrated rural settlements in the range of five houses to 199 inhabitants are classified as caseríos (hamlets) or bateyes. After 1959, however, bateyes in sugar mill estates underwent significant qualitative and quantitative changes as a consequence of the reorganization of sugar production. Many have completely disappeared. These changes have done away with the specific characteristics historically distinguishing them. Thus, we consider that there are no traits now to justify distinguishing a batey from a caserío or a poblado rural (small rural town). In some areas in the country, as is also the case in Puerto Rico, for example, backyards in peasant houses are also called bateyes.

Bejuco (Reed): Generic term for trailing or climbing lianas with extended flexible stems. They are commonly found in our countryside, where they grow wild. They climb the trees in search of sunlight. Some of them are used for basket weaving and rope making.

Bejuco colorado (Red reed): Name given to the Davilla rugosa in the Isle of Youth and in the eastern part of Cuba. In the western provinces, Serjania diversifolia receives this name.

Bejuco de vieja (Old lady's reed): Name given to Paulina fuscescens (HBK) in the north of the eastern provinces. In Camagüey it is called bejuco colorado (red reed). The species of the genus Hippocratea, as the H. volubilis (L.) and the H. ovata (Lam), occurring in mountainous regions, also receive that name.

Belliscos: Small pieces of bait thrown into the water around the fishing boat to lure fish.

Bembé: 1. Ritual celebration for the orichas, or Yoruba deities, accompanied by drumbeats bearing the same name. They are generally held in rural areas. Each oricha is offered food, drinks and fruit, also flowers, candles, some particular grasses and many other things. As in other sub-Saharan celebrations, the deities possess some of the worshipers, who adopt their characteristics and gestures. // 2. Single membrane drums in the form of cylinders or barrels. Some, those called mula and cachimbo, have the drumhead nailed and are struck with two drumsticks; the box is also struck with the hand. In others, the drumhead is stretched with a reed ring tensed by a hemp rope fastening the box in zigzag with stakes entering perpendicularly into the box. The latter ones are struck only with the hands.

Biankomeko: Membranophone ensemble with a cylindrical tubular sound box. The hide is stretched by several straps tied to the drumhead that reach the central part of the instrument forming a gauze around the twine where the parietal wedges are placed between the ties and the surface of the box. Drummers put the biggest drum, or bonko-enchemilla, between their legs or hang it from their shoulder and strike them with the palms of their hands. The three smaller drums are collectively called enkomos, but their names are obi-apa, biankome and kuchiyeremá. Drummers place them under the arm opposite to the one they use to strike it.

Bijirita: 1. Name of many species of small migratory birds (Dendroica spp.) visiting our country in winter and settling mostly in the western region. // 2. Name the Spaniards gave in the 19th century to the Cubans fighting for their independence.

Bocadito: Small piece of bread with a ham, cheese or fish spread. Very commonly offered in birthday and wedding celebrations.

Bocú: Single-membrane drum, with a nailed hide, a long open box that is slightly trunk-shaped. It is made of staves and iron hoops tightened around them. It is tuned with fire and struck only with the hands. The musician, or bocusero, hangs it from his neck with a strap on his left side. It is found in the eastern provinces.

Bohío: The most traditional and simple type of Cuban rural house, inherited from our aboriginal population. Today it has variations as to the number of rooms, doors and windows and its building materials have diversified. Floors are of earth, cement, wood planks and tiles; walls are made with the sheathings of the palm tree leaves, boards, adobe and bricks; roofs are of palm tree leaves, and wood or mud tiles. Materials taken from the environment are mostly used, above all those obtained from the royal palm (Roystonea regia HBK, O.F. Cook).

Boliche: To let down the nets from a vessel.

Bongo: Type of vessel with a flat bottom, forming an angle with the sides. It has a rectangular form. It has been used for fishing with mesh and casting nets.

Bongó: Percussion instrument formed by two drums of a small diameter (20 to 25 cm) and a similar high. One is bigger (the male one, macho) and the other smaller (the female one, hembra). It works as a two-membrane instrument.

Botalón (Boom): 1// Cord with hook each end, to fish White marlins. 2// Fishing gear formed by a small rod with a long cord and a false knot tied to its end. On the other end of the rod, there are a hooks and a metal wire (alambradá). Three or four of them are used at different depths to catch sharks, white marlins (Tetrapterus albidus) and similar species.

Botija: Earthenware vessel with a ventral hole that functions like a wind instrument. The musicians picks it up horizontally with both hands, takes it to his lips and blows into it. The wind collides against the walls of the vessel. By covering and uncovering the hole with his hands, he obtains changes in pitch. In some cases, a mouthpiece is used.

Brazolada: Piece of rope from which the main line hangs. A hook is tied at one end, although at times there is a piece of wire in between.

Bríkamo: Ethnic name used in Cuba for African slaves from a tribe in the Calabar region.

Briol: Long cord placed from the tralla to the crown, where it joins the pull, in casting nets with that name. When it is pulled, the complete gear bends to form a cavity.

Bubacán: Large mesh net with one tralla and a wood bait in the form of a sea turtle in one of its ends. It has only one cord fixed on the sea bottom, thus allowing it to sway with the water.

Buey suelto: Variation of the son montuno in the municipalities of Ranchuelo and Caibarién, in Villa Clara province. It is danced in couples with songs extemporized by the dancers and musicians.

Bulá: Two types of single-membrane instruments bear this name. One has a large straight box and belongs to the tumba francesa ensemble. Its hide is tensed with the stakes and ropes joining the drumhead to the drum body. The other is part of the nago drum orchestra brought to Cuba by Haitian immigrants in the 20th century. They are three rather small drums, with a straight box, tuned by stakes tied with a rope surrounding the hide.

Bunga: Name of a peasant ensemble accompanying the son montuno. Its instruments vary according to the region. These ensembles can still be found in the area of Manzanillo, where two guitars, claves and a bongó are used.

Burén: Round earthenware sheet where the aborigines cooked their cassava bread. Earthenware sheets were replaced by metal ones in the 16th century and a handle with the form of a bow was added to them. The present oven, still bearing the native name, was introduced in the 20th century.

Baby games: Games used to teach babies a body movement, such as moving their arms or hitting their heads rhythmically.

Bon Dieu Sect: A sect of "French Blacks" mentioned in a late 19th century document in Guantánamo. During Holy Week, its members dressed in blue and sang in the streets.

Bottle trumpet: A trumpet made with two bottomless bottles, placed one into the other, with a piece of paper in between. It produces a dull high-pitched sound and is used as a trumpet in son montuno ensembles.