The Balafon Cameroon, Africa

Description of Instrument Percussion turned instrument Related to xylophone, marimba, glockenspeil, and vibraphone Idiophone percussion instrument – instrument whose sound is produced by itself – keys vibrate when hit 17-21 wooden keys Tuned to different scales according to culture of musician

How sound is produced Wooden keys with resonated frame Keys are hit with two padded sticks Resonated frame consisted of gourds filled with mud and dried underneath to support the wooden keys/bars

Two types of balafons Fixed Key - Keys are strung over wooden frame with resonators underneath Free Key - Keys are placed alone on any padded surface

Development of Balafon Developed in South Africa in the 12th century B.C. In 1352, reported that it was used in the court of the Malian ruler in Mansa Musa In 1950, bars were used across Cameroon’s capital to accommodate new comers and this became their identity, which is why the instrument is made of wooden bars. Title of Senegalese National Anthem means “Everyone strum your koras, strike the balafon” There is a festival dedicated to the balafon called “Triangle du Balafon” that takes place annually in Sikasso, Mali

What does Balafon mean? Composed of two separate words put together Balan is the name of the instrument Fo is the verb “to play” in the Malinke language

Cultural Use of Instrument Orchestras of three to five players Played alone Bikutsi folk music - music based on war rhythm sung by women using sexually explicit lyrics and songs regarding everyday problems Modern day African music

Who plays the balafon? Some cultures, sacred instrument only played by trained religious caste members at ritual events such as marriages, festivals, royal funerals Young apprentices trained on free-key balafon Other cultures, balafon is used in everyday modern music

Interesting fact In 1776 the Virginia Gazette reports that African Americans were playing a barrafoo or balafon The African Slave trade had apparently brought some players back with them to America

Websites with the Balafon www.en.wikipedia.org/balafon www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Instruments/Anglais/dpbf_i_txt03a_en.html www.jumbierecords.com/about/sossobala.html www.marimbalafon.com