The balafon is a type of idiophone from West Africa, with a rich history dating back to the 12th century. The first emperor of the Mali empire, Sundiata Keita, is known as the Godfather of the Balafon. He united the warring tribes and brought a period of peace and prosperity to the Mandinka people. As such, the balafon has deep significance as a symbol of freedom and community. The history and mythology of the balafon are passed along via song during festival gatherings. Records of the balafon's existence go back to Ibn Battuta's 1352 CE report from a court in Mali. That said, much of the instrument's history is wrapped up in myth and legend. It is clearly an instrument of the courts, much like the kora, though perhaps more ancient.
Whatever its origin, the Kouyaté family of griots (djeli praise singers and musicians) have been the guardians of this instrument for many years (more on this). Balla Kouyaté (a direct descendant of this family line) is one of many who have helped to keep this tradition alive. The reputed original balafon, the 800+ year old sacred Sosso-Bala, is preserved in a round mud hut in northern Guinea, played only by the patriarch of the Dökala griot family of Nyagassola on special occasions (such as the Muslim New Year and burials). This guardian, called the Balatigui, is also responsible for teaching the next generation of balafon players.
The xylophone is a direct descendant of the balafon, with the main distinctions being in their tuning and materials used in construction. The balafon tends to be pentatonic or heptatonic (though chromatic balafons do exist). Generally, the balafon has between 16 and 27 notes (more on this here). Balafon construction requires a lot of knowledge and skill, and is still largely done on a small scale by trained craftsmen (click to read more). The hand-carved and painstakenly dried hardwood slats are then attached to a frame using leather cord. Next, calabash gourds are affixed to the underside of the instrument, acting as amplifiers for the sound (and producing a buzzing sound in some cases).
Listen to some examples of the balafon:
- Balafon ensembles in the Sénoufo community
- Balafon ensemble: Djarabikan
- Balfon ensemble from BaraGnouma
- Adama and Ardjouman play "Furu" duet on balafon
Watch some tutorials for getting started in playing balafon:
- Balafon beginner techniques
- Learn to play Mamady Keita's "Saran Kenyi"
- BaraGnouma balafon construction
- Balafon tutorial, demonstration at end