Balafon is a pentatonic xylophone in the Senufo communities of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Côte d'Ivoire.
Guinea is historically home to solo balafon players. Kouyaté family members have been referred to as keepers of balafon culture since it is a caste-based culture. They helped spread it worldwide in the twentieth century.
Balafon is one of the oldest and most iconic instruments in African musical history, dating back to the 12th century, and is the most performed instrument along the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.
Known locally as ncegele, the common name, balafon, is likely a European coinage combining the Mandinka name bala with the word fôn 'to speak' or the Greek root phono. It is found across West Africa from Guinea to Mali, and is closely tied to the neighboring Mandé, Senoufo, and Gur peoples. It is closely associated with the Guinean branch of the Mandinka ethnic group.
The Balafon is made from a wide variety of woods, however, Bene wood and bamboo are highly popular, as they are strong and flexible. Secondly, the Balafon is made up of calabashes.
The ncegele is composed of between eleven and twenty-one wooden keys of varying lengths that are set on a trapezoidal frame. The resonators are made from calabash gourds in varying sizes and are arranged underneath the frame in proportion to the length of the keys.
The holes on the ncegele are covered by spider's egg-sac filaments or plant sap. The tuning of this string instrument is based on the division of the octave into five equal intervals. The ncegele is played with wooden sticks and a rubber beater attached to the end.
The ncegele is an instrument that is played solo or as part of an ensemble. The musical discourse of the ncegele is based on multiple rhythms and melodies. The ncegele is used for entertainment during festivals, to accompany prayers in the parish or sacred woods, as well as to stimulate enthusiasm for work.
It also provides support for teaching value systems, traditions, beliefs, customary law, and ethical rules governing society. Players begin learning to play children's balafons, eventually moving on to full-size balafons under the instruction of a teacher.
Balafon is still being played today by South African artists. In spite of new instruments coming into fashion every few years, the Balafon (or xylophone as it is known in other parts) remains a popular musical instrument. No matter the name--Balafon, Balaphone, in Guinea--it carries the pride of African music with each note played.
References
(https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/cultural-practices-and-expressions-linked-to-the-balafon-of-the-senufo-communities-of-mali-burkina-faso-and-cte-d-ivoire-00849) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balafon) (https://www.firestone.co.za/firestone-musical-instruments-balafon)