balafon/bala/balan/balani (West African-style gourd resonated xylophone)

Dimensions: 32" l., 22" w., 10" h.

This Pan-African Arts-crafted offering is modeled on the baan of the Sambla people (Burkina Faso) and features a pentatonic tuning. Its 10 jatoba keys are mounted on a wooden frame. Underneath each of the keys are gourds fitted with mirlitons, which emit the characteristic "buzz" when the keys are struck.

Note: The plastic mirlitons covering the gourd resonators, the keys won't resonate properly if they are punctured or become detached from the gourd. If either should happen, you can replace the mirlitons by cutting pieces from a plastic grocery shopping bag and gluing them over the holes in the gourds. Another thing that affects the sound of the instrument is mirlitons that are too taut or too loose; in either case, gently depress the mirlitons with a finger.

Note, too: Rubber tapped directly from trees traditionally is used to wrap mallets. Because of the unavailability of such natural rubber, i use strips of rubber from bicycle inner tubes. These mallets are located on the bottom of the frame.

The following video features a similarly-tuned Pan-African Arts instrument in play:

"A Pan-African Arts bala being taken on a test drive" ().

This video features musician Oteil Burbridge testing a similar balani by Pan-African Arts:

See also "Adama Diabate plays solo on the Jula (Dioula) balafon"; "Sali Diabate on the Jula (Dioula) balafon"; "Sanou Soungalo, balafoniste de Bobo Dioulasso"; (Balafon Live Bamako."