balafon

noun

bal·​a·​fon

ˈba-lə-ˌfōn,

-ˌfän

variants or less commonly balafo

ˈba-lə-fō

or balaphon

ˈba-lə-ˌfōn,

-ˌfän

plural balafons also balafos or balaphons

: a West African xylophone with gourd resonators

Word History

Etymology

French & Bambara; French balafon, from Bambara balafo to play the xylophone, from bala xylophone

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