Balafon
The balafon (pronounced /ˈbæləfɒn/, or, by analogy with xylophone etc., /ˈbæləfoʊn/) is a gourd-resonated xylophone, a type of struck idiophone. It is closely associated with the neighbouring Mandé, Senoufo and Gur peoples of West Africa, particularly the Guinean branch of the Mandinka ethnic group, but is now found across West Africa from Guinea to Mali. Its common name, balafon, is likely a European coinage combining its Mandinka name ߓߟߊ bala with the word ߝߐ߲ fôn 'to speak' or the Greek root phono.
A fixed-key balafon, showing resonators with membrane holes | |
| Other names | balafo, bala, balaphone, balaphon, balaphong, balani, gyil, balangi |
|---|---|
| Classification | West African wooden Percussion idiophone with up to 21 keys |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 111.212 (Sets of percussion sticks) |
| Developed | 12th century or earlier |
| Related instruments | |
| gyil, marimba, xylophone, gambang kayu | |
| Builders | |
| Claude Luisier | |
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