Balafon

Balafon
A fixed-key balafon, showing resonators with membrane holes
Other namesbalafo, bala, balaphone, balaphon, balaphong, balani, gyil, balangi
Classification West African wooden Percussion idiophone with up to 21 keys
Hornbostel–Sachs classification111.212
(Sets of percussion sticks)
Developed12th century or earlier
Related instruments
gyil, marimba, xylophone, gambang kayu

The balafon (pronounced /ˈbæləfɒn/, or, by analogy with xylophone etc., /ˈbæləfn/) is a gourd-resonated xylophone, a type of struck idiophone.[1] It is closely associated with the neighbouring Mandé, Bwaba Bobo, Senoufo and Gur peoples of West Africa,[1][2] particularly the Guinean branch of the Mandinka ethnic group,[3] but is now found across West Africa from Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali.[2] Its common name, balafon, is likely a European coinage combining its Mandinka name ߓߟߊ bala[4] with the word ߝߐ߲ fôn 'to speak'[2][5] or the Greek root phono.[1]

  1. ^ a b c Gourlay, K.A.; Durán, Lucy (2001). "Balo". Grove Music. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.01914. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
  2. ^ a b c Jessup, Lynne (1983). The Mandinka Balafon: An Introduction with Notation for Teachesting. Art Path Press. ISBN 9780916421045.
  3. ^ Charry, Eric (October 2000). Mande Music: Traditional and Modern Music of the Maninka and Mandinka of Western Africa. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 9780226101620.
  4. ^ Faya Ismael Tolno (September 2011). "Les Recherches linguistiques de l'école N'ko" (PDF). Dalou Kende (in French). No. 19. Kanjamadi. p. 7. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  5. ^ Network, Canadian Heritage Information. "The Balafon by N'Gafien, Age 16". www.virtualmuseum.ca. Archived from the original on 2017-06-30. Retrieved 2019-07-12.