Instrument creations – Koras, balafons...

The Jazzy-Kora

A unique instrument, a universal sound

A unique invention in the world

• The Jazzy-Kora is the only truly chromatic kora ever created. Handcrafted by hand, it incorporates a pedal system similar to that of a concert harp. This innovation allows certain notes to be modified in real time without restricting the hands—a freedom that lever koras cannot offer.

Between tradition and modernity

• Born from a dream, from deep respect for the West African kora and a desire for openness, the Jazzy-Kora preserves the soul of the ancestral instrument while offering it a new sonic horizon.
  With its 32 strings, extended range, and two pedals, it is capable of exploring traditional repertoires as well as jazz, world music, and even film scoring.

• The Jazzy-Kora is more than just an instrument: it is a bridge.
  A bridge between Africa and the West, between tradition and creation, between stage and screen.
  Its sound — poetic, rhythmic, and cinematic — opens new spaces for improvisation, composition, and cultural dialogue.

A new voice

Jazzy-Kora: first gestures, first forms

In the workshop, the Jazzy-Kora comes to life. Each piece of wood, carefully crafted, hints at the unique instrument it will become.

The "X-Bala" pedal-powered balafon

A double voice united in a single instrument.

An original invention

• This diatonic balafon with 25 curved keys is truly one of a kind.
  Equipped with an ingenious pedal-driven mechanism, it allows the membranes of the gourds to be opened or closed. This instantly transforms its timbre: from the raw, traditional sound of the balafon to a tone closer to that of the xylophone or marimba.

Between heritage and exploration

• Designed with respect for the West African balafon, this instrument opens up new sonic possibilities. Thanks to its pedal system, it becomes a bridge between tradition and modernity, offering a broader palette of nuances and textures.

A unique sound color

• This balafon is not just an instrumental creation: it is an invitation to a musical journey. He alone carries two instruments: the memory of the West African balafon and the momentum of Western percussion. Between the resonance of the gourds and the brilliance of the blades, he weaves a unique and expressive language.

The "Bellafon"

Created several years ago, this instrument was initially called Clochafon, a reference to its wooden bells (in French), also played with sticks like the balafon. Over time, its name became Bellafon: the same sound root, but in English, for a closer echo of its namesake. Chromatic and original, the Bellafon is a keyboard of 25 wooden blocks, both unique and singular.

A wooden keyboard with unique sounds

Sanza or chromatic Kalimba

The thumb piano with 37 chromatic keys

Directly inspired by the Mbira, a cross between the sanza and the kalimba, this instrument, nicknamed a thumb piano, creates delicate and harmonious melodies at the fingertips. Its 37 chromatic keys, arranged like those on a piano keyboard, open up an infinite musical universe, allowing you to adapt to all types of music and freely explore tonalities.