Which latin percussion instrument does this describe: tall drums of equal height but different diameters, with the smaller one assigned the lead role?

The Latin percussion instrument being referred to is congas. It is also known as tumbadora which is a tall and narrow as well as a single headed drum which is then from Cuba. The smaller one is being assign to the lead role.

Create it and find things around your house to make it .

Because most artists loved the way that their men or women that they were to paint/sculpture just the way that they had when they sat and posed and they thought that it looked more i guess