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| -(bala, balaphone), a Manding name, is believed to have developed independent of the South African marimba. It is made up of wooden rods usually played with padded sticks/mallets. Pitch of the notes vary according to such factors as density and weight of the wood, as well as the length, width, and thickness of the wooden rods. Under each rod is a calabash of varying size, which serves as a resonator. The design of the instrument has not changed much over the centuries, however variation exists throughout West Africa, such as the Balangi in Sierra Leone, the Gyil, (pronounced JEE-lee) of the Dahara people from Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Côte d'Ivoire, and the palaku of the ancient Central African Kingdom of Kongo,. Alternately these instruments can be mounted on a frame or stand and played sitting, standing, or attached to a long leather strap to be slung around the neck and played in processionals. |
Bakongo Figural Balafon - 6 Bars
Bakongo DRC, Angola - Congo River Region | Balafon - 10 Bars
Ghanaian Ghana | Bamileke Balafon - 7 Bars
Bamileke Cameroon Grasslands | Beti 8-Keyed Balafon (bottom)
Beti Cameroon | Beti 8-Keyed Balafon (top)
Beti Cameroon |
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Beti Mejang (Balafon)
Beti Cameroon grasslands | Kwela Ceremonial Mask Balafon - 4 Bars
Kwele Gabon, Cameroon, Republic of Congo | Luba Ceremonial Balafon - 6 Bars
Luba Democratic Republic of Congo | Mambuti Balafon with Log Resonators - 8 Bars
Mambuti Democratic Republic of Congo | Mande Balafon - 14-Bars
Mande West Africa |
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Mandi Balafon (xylophone) - 20 Bars
Mande Mali | One-note Balafon/Xylophone
Kuba Democratic Republic of Congo |
| -are symbols of power. In African music, bells are recognized as having one of the most resonant and penetrating sounds. They are the master of time, marking the rhythm and maintaining the beat for singing, as well as drumming and dancing. Their voice raises above all the other instrumental sounds, much the same as the king rules over of his subject people. Thus, bells are considered the voice of authority and are an attribute and emblem of power. |
Ashanti Figural Bell
Ashanti Ghana | Bamoun Altar Bell - Crane
Bamoun Cameroon - Royal Palace, Foumban | Bamoun Altar Bell - Small Bird Figural
Bamoun Cameroon Grasslands | Benin Bell with Face
Benin Nigeria | Benin Chief Altar Bell (C)
Edo Nigeria |
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Benin Quadrangular Bell
Benin Nigeria and Benin | Benin Tunic Bells
Benin Nigeria | Crotal Bell
Unknown Ivory Coast | Dinka Cow Bell
Dinka Southern Sudan | Edo Helmet Mask Bell - Janus Head
Edo Nigeria and Benin |
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Gurunsi Ritual Bell with Chameleons
Gurunsi Chad | Ibo Shrine Bell - Serpents
Ibo (Igbo) Lower Niger Bronze Industries, Nigeria | Igbo Alter Bell
Ibo (Igbo) Nigeria | Igbo Bronze Altar Bell
Ibo (Igbo) Niger River Delta Region | Ijebu head-shaped altar bell of the Yoruba
Yoruba Nigera |
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Ijebu head-shaped bell of the Yoruba
Yoruba Nigeria | Kota Ceremonial Bell
Kota Northeastern Region of Gabon | Kuba Puno Spear Bell
Kuba Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire) | Kuba Puno Spear Bell (Handle)
Kuba Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire) | Lobi Bell with Blade Finial
Lobi Burkina Faso |
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Namji Ancestral Bell
Namji Cameroon | Ogboni Bell with Blade Finial
Yoruba Nigeria | Tikar Warrior Bronze Head Bell
Tikar Cameroon | Tikar Altar Head Bell
Tikar Cameroon Grasslands | Tikar Anthropomorphic Bell
Tikar Cameroon |
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Tikar Bell
Tikar Cameroon Grasslands | Tikar Bell with Frog Motif Finial
Tikar Cameroon | Tikar Equestrian Figurine Bell
Tikar Cameroon | Tikar Equestrian Head Bell
Tikar Cameroon | Tikar Maternity Bronze Bell
Tikar Cameroon |
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Voltaic Crotal Bell
Bambara Burkina Faso | Yoruba
Yoruba Nigeria | Yoruba Altar Bell (Omo) #1
Yoruba Nigeria | Yoruba Altar Bell (Omo) #2
Yoruba Nigeria | Yoruba Altar Bell (Omo) #3
Yoruba Nigeria and Benin |
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Yoruba Altar Bell (Omo) #4
Yoruba Nigeria and Benin | Yoruba Altar Bell (Omo) #5
Yoruba Nigeria and Benin | Yoruba Altar Bell (Omo) #6
Yoruba Nigeria and Benin | Yoruba Bell with Handle
Yoruba Nigeria | Yoruba Bronze Bell (#1)
Yoruba Nigeria |
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Yoruba Bronze Bell (#2)
Yoruba Nigeria | Yoruba Face Bell with Blade
Yoruba Nigeria | Yoruba Initiation Bell
Yoruba Nigeria | Yoruba Obgoni Bell
Yoruba Southwestern Nigeria, Bénin | Yoruba Omo Bell
Yoruba Nigeria and Benin |
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Yoruba Owo Altar Bell
Yoruba Nigeria |
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