« Balafon »:African xylophone,
• Balafon is an african instrument of music
Description
Bala or turukabala (in the Bamanan language)
five-tone xylophone,
(Ethnic group: Bamanan, Senufo, Bwa) Wood,
bamboo, gourd, leather, spider cocoon
Width: 119 cm / Length: 63,5 cm
KINDS of Balafon
• There are two kinds of bala xylophone:
• the balaba or "large xylophone",
• the bala nin or "small xylophone",
Balaba
• The balaba, which may be accompanied
by other instruments such as rattles,
accompanies the "hand-clapping of
women" as a fully-fledged musical genre
bala min
• which have given rise to two completely
different musical genres. This instrument
is played only by men.
How is used the balafon?
• It is also played in solo si or evening
gatherings, organized for circumcision and
excision ceremonies. The bala nin, for its
part, is played in four-instrument
ensembles: two xylophones and two bass
drums.
It has a varied vocal and rhythmic
repertoire.
• This is first and foremost for popular
music, played for young audiences. This
music is performed at weddings, annual
reunions of the tòn (agrarian associations
whose members are young boys and
girls), or simply for merrymaking
historic
• In the Malinké culture, musical
performances are the reserve of particular
castes, jeliw witchdoctors and numun
blacksmiths with a mastery of oratory.
They are characterized by epics depicting
the heroes and important events of the
history of the Mandé's former political
systems.
Balafogr
darbu1g
Balafon’s players
Balafon’s young players
Balafon’s old players
young boys from a village