From Traditional Balafon to X-Bala – Musical Innovation

The first time I heard the balafon — notably through the playing of Kélétigui Diabaté — I was immediately captivated. At first glance, this instrument seems simple, almost primitive: wooden keys resonating through calabashes. But the moment one looks closer, an incredible complexity is revealed, both in its construction and in its playing. The tuning — whether pentatonic or diatonic depending on the regions of West Africa — gives each instrument a unique sonic identity. The membranes fixed to the calabashes amplify the sound while adding that raw, deep vibration that strikes straight to the listener.

Over time, after building a chromatic balafon with 54 keys, I felt the urge to attempt a new experiment to broaden the soundscape even further. To vary the experience — and also to respond to those who are less fond of the famous “buzz” of the balafon — I designed the X-Bala. It features a curved wooden frame to host 25 keys, and a stainless steel system for attaching the calabashes, making adjustment and disassembly easier. A pedal, connected to the mechanism, allows the membranes to be engaged or disengaged: the X-Bala can then preserve the traditional identity of the balafon or explore new colors, closer to the marimba or the xylophone.

The X-Bala was born from this desire to expand the palette without betraying the spirit. Neither rupture nor pretension, it is simply my way of prolonging the fascination I felt the very first time I heard the balafon’s vibrations.

Discover this balafon on the "Instrument Creations" page