balafon
A West African wooden xylophone with gourd resonators, central to the music of the Mandinka people.
In Depth
The balafon consists of tuned wooden bars arranged like a keyboard, suspended over calibrated gourd resonators. Small holes in the gourds are covered with spider egg-sac membrane, creating a characteristic buzzing timbre. The instrument is played with rubber-headed mallets. Balafon music features complex interlocking patterns between multiple players. The instrument holds deep cultural significance among the Mandinka and other West African peoples.
The Sosso Bala, a sacred balafon dating to the 13th century, is one of the oldest surviving musical instruments in Africa and is a UNESCO-designated cultural treasure.