The mambo is a fast ballroom dance of Caribbean origin, rhythmically similar to the rumba and cha-cha but having a more complex pattern of steps. It is a result of long cross-cultural journey of African and European origin. Mambo was originally a name for a musical instrument that was used in rituals and gradually became worldly. Mambo means "conversation with the gods" and in Cuba names a sacred song of the Congos, Cubans of Bantu origin. The Congos have assimilated to a variety of foreign influences, and the mambo is a delicacy of Bantu, Spanish, and Yoruba.

The mambo can be traced back to English country-dance, which in the 17th century became the contredanse at the French court. Later, in Spain, it became known as the contradanza. In the 18th century, the contradanza reached Cuba where it was known as the danza and a national dance. After the...