balafon
/ˈbaləfɒn
/noun
A large xylophone with hollow gourds as resonators, used in West African music.In Malinke traditional music, men drum and play balafons (xylo-phones made from wood and gourds)....
- One composition may highlight the possibilities of the balafon whilst another concentrates on the ngoni or Kora.
- And the tinkle of kora and the woody tones of the balafon xylophone are skillfully combined with the sounds of an Egyptian orchestra.
Origin
Via French from Manding bala 'xylophone' + fo 'to play'.