The Toca caxixis are percussion instruments consisting of a closed basket with a flat plastic bottom filled with seeds or other small particles and a round bottom. It is played by shaking. Musicians create variations in sound by varying the angle at which the caxixi is shaken, determining whether the contents strike the reed basket (softer sound) or the hard bottom (louder, sharper sound). It is found across Africa and South America, but mainly in Brazil and Cuba. In Brazil, the smaller-sized caxixi began to be played alongside the berimbau. The larger sized caxixi were first used on recordings by Airto Moreira, but it was Naná Vasconcelos who furthered the use of caxixi for rhythmic accompaniment and colors. In West Africa, it is used by singers and often alongside drummers.
