Don't get lost on me now: A “conga” is a musical group that will participate on the Carnival Parade (Desfile del Carnaval). This musical group is from a traditional part of town. Many of them have participated in the Carnival for decades, generations passed on to generations. All of them know where the other congas live and who they are. Some are friends, others are rivals, and many ignored until the day of the Invasion.

The “Invasion” is considered the beginning of the Santiago de Cuba Carnival. It is when the congas go visiting each other to “challenge” to carnival. We do not have it quite clear how the Invasion starts, all we know is that a conga goes to visit another conga. Then the second conga joins the first one to go and visit a third one; which also joins. And it keeps on going and going, all the congas joining, until all are visited. The Invasion is called this way in honor of the Cuban patriots that fought for Cuban independence; and from what we gather, it is also referred to as the Conga of Santiago de Cuba.