The African xylophone is a beautiful musical instrument

We love music and produce good music. One traditional instrument I admire, yet haven’t played before, is the xylophone. It is a rare instrument. All across the globe, many countries and cultures use xylophones too, but the African one stands out and its beauty surpasses all. Let’s share more tidbits about the African xylophone.

The African xylophone, also called balafon, is a popular musical instrument in West Africa and other parts of Africa such as Sierra Leone, Senegal, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Congo, etc.

The African xylophone bears several names across the diverse cultures of the continent such as including the balangi,  gyil, palaku, etc. In some part of Africa, the xylophone is played alone, and in other parts, it is played as part of an ensemble. The xylophone is played during important events such as religious rituals, festivals, and stage cultural performances.