Description: The balaphone is a member of the tuned percussion family of instruments found throughout West Africa from Guinea to Ivory Coast. Most of the balophones are tuned in a pentatonic (or five note) scale. Becoming a good balaphone player involves very intensive training. Students under long hours of practice and they learn to master complex rhythms and technique. Many students are known to faint due to physical exhaustion during the training. The xylophone and marimba are well known descendants of the balaphone.

Anatomy of the Balaphone: During the process of construction a frame is made that supports the hardwood keys and underneath a network of gourds arranged in parallel are attached. The gourds serve as acoustic resonators. Balophones usually have some 17 to 21 keys. Each gourd or calabash has a carved whole that has the fibers of a spider egg sack applied over the hole. A pair of mallets are` constructed for the balaphone and they are made from a shaft of hard wood at the striking end slivers of rubber tire are wrapped around.

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