balafon, n.
(ˈbæləfɒn)
Also balafo, balaphon, and varr.
[a. F. balafon (1688 in Trésor), f. Manding bala xylophone + fo to play.]
A large xylophone with hollow gourds used as resonators, used in various parts of W. Africa and elsewhere in the performance of W. African music.. Cf. *ballard n.2
| 1797 Encycl. Brit. III. 767/2 Bufalo [sic], a musical instrument, consisting of several pipes of wood tied together with thongs of leather, so as to form a small interstice between each pipe. It is used by the negroes of Guinea. 1833 F. Shoberl tr. Hugo's Hunchb. iii. 60 The Egyptians played upon their African balafoes and tambourines. 1935 G. Gorer Africa Dances i. iv. 55 No one who was not a griot would..play the tomtom, the balafron (a kind of xylophone). 1965 Economist 16 Jan. 229/3 The Senegal national anthem..begins..‘Strum your koras, strike the balafons’. 1988 Q Nov. 123/5 Today Jali plays with a new line-up (though the same format of kora, guitars, balaphon and vocals both lead and chorus). 1991 P. Sweeney Virgin Directory World Music 21 A spare, heavy bass guitar and minimal touches of synthesizer added a contemporary feel to the raw simple melodies and traditional ngoni and balafon accompaniment. |