Maracas were created and first used by the native indians of Puerto Rico: the Tainos, as a percussion musical instrument. A pair of these are used to create the unique sound so common in Latin American and Puerto Rican music.
In salsa music the maracas have become one of the most important percussion instruments because they add a driving pulse in the high frequency spectrum. Perhaps their importance to salsa is like the role of hihat and snare drum in pop and rock music.
