1. The Balafon Cameroon, Africa

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Websites with the Balafon