« 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

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Balafon’s playersBalafon’s players

Balafon’s young playersBalafon’s young players

Balafon’s old playersBalafon’s old players

young boys from a villageyoung boys from a village