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How to fold an origami bongos

Fold two straight drum shells, one smaller and shorter, top each with a pale oval head, then join them with a short dark block.

You need: Orange-brown paper (8 x 7 cm and 6 x 5 cm), cream paper (9 x 3 cm and 7 x 3 cm), a 4 x 3 cm dark brown piece, a white pen and glue. Medium, 12 steps, about 15 minutes.

Steps

  1. Big drum: shell. Start with the bigger orange piece, coloured side up. Fold the two bottom corners a little way behind.
  2. Big drum: head. Set it aside. Take the bigger cream piece, coloured side up.
  3. Head: oval. Fold all four corners behind, cutting far along the long edges, so it becomes a wide oval.
  4. Head: rounder. Fold each of the eight new corners a little way behind to round the oval.
  5. Small drum: shell. Set it aside. Take the smaller orange piece, coloured side up.
  6. Small drum: shell. Fold its two bottom corners a little way behind, like the big one.
  7. Small drum: head. Set it aside. Take the smaller cream piece, coloured side up.
  8. Head: oval. Fold its four corners behind the same way to make a smaller oval.
  9. Head: rounder. Fold its eight new corners a little way behind too.
  10. Block. Set it aside. Take the dark brown piece for the block that joins the drums.
  11. Block: in half. Fold it in half, bottom edge behind, to make a short thick block.
  12. Glue it together. Glue each oval head across the top edge of its drum. Stand the drums side by side, big one on the left, and glue the block across the gap.

Bongo beat!

Draw white metal lug strips down each drum and a dark band near the base. Tap with your fingertips: the small one sings high, the big one low.

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