today, this african influence is still noticeable whenever the music is played - another defining characteristic of jongo is that it is often sung in the form of improvised poetry as the music is played - these improvised metaphorical poems have to be deciphered by the audience. 

rich of expressions related to culture of the coffee and sugar cane plantations, its themes often include also the paranormal or the unknown and mystical, and it is typically performed around a bonfire with the participating  'jongueiros' dancing around it.