Gourds include the fruits of some flowering plant species in the family Cucurbitaceae , particularly Cucurbita and Lagenaria . The term refers to a number of species and subspecies, many with hard shells, and some without. Many gourds have large, bulbous bodies and long necks, such as Dipper Gourds, many variations of Bottle Gourd and caveman club gourds. One of the earliest domesticated types of plants, subspecies of the bottle gourd , Lagenaria siceraria , have been discovered in archaeological sites dating from as early as 13,000 BC. Gourds have had numerous uses throughout history, including as tools, musical instruments, objects of art, film, and food.
41-592: The balafon (pronounced / ˈ b æ l ə f ɒ n / , or, by analogy with xylophone etc., / ˈ b æ l ə f oʊ n / ) is a gourd -resonated xylophone , a type of struck idiophone . It is closely associated with the neighbouring Mandé , Bwaba Bobo , Senoufo and Gur peoples of West Africa, particularly the Guinean branch of the Mandinka ethnic group, but is now found across West Africa from Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali . Its common name, balafon ,
82-406: A tetratonic , pentatonic or heptatonic scale, depending on the culture of the musician. The balafon is generally capable of producing 18 to 21 notes, though some are built to produce many fewer notes (16, 12, 8 or even 6 and 7). Balafon keys are traditionally made from kosso rosewood, dried slowly over a low flame, and then tuned by shaving off bits of wood from the underside of the keys. Wood
123-514: A xylophone that has gourds attached to the bottom of each note for resonance . Gourds have maintained a prominent role in the mythology of numerous cultures. In regard to Christianity , several artists such as Frans Floris and Carlo Crivelli have depicted the gourd as a symbol of the Resurrection of Christ, juxtaposed with the Fruit of Good and Evil that was consumed by Adam and Eve. In
164-489: A multitude of uses including food storage , cooking tools, toys, musical instruments and decoration. Today, gourds are commonly used for a wide variety of crafts, including jewelry, furniture, dishes, utensils and a wide variety of decorations using carving, burning and other techniques such as lamps and containers for storing objects. Just one example of a musical instrument is the West African Balafon ,
205-427: A region that shares many musical traditions with those of northern Ivory Coast and Ghana. It is made with 14 wooden keys of an African hardwood called liga attached to a wooden frame, below which hang calabash gourds. Spider web silk covers small holes in the gourds to produce a buzzing sound and antelope sinew and leather are used for the fastenings. The instrument is played with rubber-headed wooden mallets. During
246-544: A story of the formation of the Mali Empire , tells that a griot (praise-singer) named Bala Faséké Kouyaté convinced Sosso king Sumanguru Kante to employ him after sneaking into Sumanguru's palace and playing the sacred instrument. Sundiata Keita , founder of the Mali Empire overthrew Sumanguru, seized the balafon, and made the griot Faséké its guardian. This honor is said to have passed down through his family,
287-619: Is also sometimes referred to as a gourd. L. siceraria or bottle gourd, are native to the Americas, being found in Peruvian archaeological sites dating from 13,000 to 11,000 BC and Thailand sites from 11,000 to 6,000 BC. A study of bottle gourd DNA published in 2005 suggests that there are two distinct subspecies of bottle gourds, domesticated independently in Africa and Asia, the latter approximately 4,000 years earlier. The gourds found in
328-722: Is an endangered tree species native to the Sahelian region of West Africa . It is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora . It is used for fuel wood, for medicinal purposes, as a woodworking material, and is useful as a nitrogen-fixing plant to improve nutrient-depleted farming land. It has several common names, including kosso , barwood , African kino tree , muninga , and vène ; mukwa
369-408: Is in high demand by sheep farmers for fodder. The tree has several medicinal uses , including reduction of fever and cough suppression. Pterocarpus erinaceus is one of the traditional djembe woods. It is also the only wood used to make the keys and part of the frame of the balafon and is the most common wood used to make the neck of the kora . Pterocarpus erinaceus was brought to Europe in
410-568: Is likely a European coinage combining its Mandinka name ߓߟߊ bala with the word ߝߐ߲ fôn 'to speak' or the Greek root phono . Believed to have been developed independently of the Southern African and South American instrument now called the marimba , oral histories of the balafon date it to at least the rise of the Mali Empire in the 12th century CE. Balafon is a Manding name, but variations exist across West Africa, including
451-538: Is often depicted carrying a staff with a gourd attached to its end. Li Tieguai , one of the Eight Immortals is also often depicted with a bottle gourd that contains a special medicine that he uses to aid the sick, poor, or needy. These depictions denote the fruit's significance as a symbol of longevity and the power of medicine within Chinese culture. Pterocarpus erinaceus Pterocarpus erinaceus
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#1732790206617492-411: Is taken off the middle to flatten the key or the end to sharpen it. In a fixed-key balafon, the keys are suspended by leather straps just above a wooden frame, under which are hung graduated-size calabash gourd resonators. A small hole in each gourd is covered with a membrane traditionally of thin spider's-egg sac filaments (nowadays more usually of cigarette paper or thin plastic film) to produce
533-492: Is then used as the name of the high pitched, small balafon with small calabashes and short (3 to 4 cm long) keys. The balani is carried with a strap and usually has 21 keys, while the number of keys on a bala vary with region. A balafon can be either fixed-key (where the keys are strung over a fixed frame, usually with calabash resonators underneath) or free-key (where the keys are placed independently on any padded surface). The balafon usually has 17–21 keys, tuned to
574-994: Is used for this species as well as other Pterocarpus . Groves of the tree can be found on the savannahs of West Africa, but it is becoming increasingly rare and is sometimes cultivated. The tree also grows in forests of Comoé National Park in Côte d'Ivoire , a region geographically close to the Sahel but with a higher moisture regime due to its location between two large rivers. Also, the tree grows in abundance in Kurmi Local Govt. of Taraba State in Nigeria. The tree grows to about 11 meters in height on average, and bears dark, scaly bark and yellow flowers. The fruits are winged pods. P. erinaceus grows well on sunny, hot African plains with long dry seasons and frequent fires. The wood, which varies from yellowish to rosy reds and rich browns,
615-461: Is usually played in pairs, accompanied by a calabash gourd drum called a kuor . It can also be played by one person with the drum and the stick part as accompaniment, or by a soloist. Gyil duets are the traditional music of Dagara funerals. The instrument is generally played by men, who learn to play while young; however, there is no restriction on gender. It is also played by the Gurunsi people of
656-432: Is valued for woodworking, and makes good charcoal and fuel wood. The tree exudes a red sap called kino , which is used as a dye in tanning and cloth-making. As a legume, the tree harbors rhizobia that return nitrogen to the soil, making it more fertile. Such plants are desirable on farmland. In addition, the foliage is a nutritious fodder for farm animals. Mali has an active market for P. erinaceus foliage, which
697-750: The Gur -speaking populations in northern Ghana , Burkina Faso , southeastern Mali and northern Ivory Coast in West Africa . Among Mande populations in Ghana like the Ligbi (Numu), Bissa and Dyula , the same instrument is known as bala . The gyil is the primary traditional instrument of the Dagara people of northern Ghana and Burkina Faso, and of the Lobi of Ghana, southern Burkina Faso, and Ivory Coast . The gyil
738-758: The Old Testament of the Christian bible, a gourd tree was used to shield Jonah from intense weather conditions while he was surveying Nineveh. This terminology is contested by the New King James Version which calls which simply uses the term plant. In Catholicism , the calabash and rod that pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago adorn have become synonymous with the image of Raphael (archangel) . The gourd also makes frequent appearances in Chinese mythology. The Chinese god of longevity Shouxing
779-684: The Senegalese National Anthem is " Pincez tous vos koras, frappez les balafons " ( Everyone strum your koras , strike the balafons ). A modern festival devoted to the balafon, the Triangle du balafon , now takes place annually at Sikasso in Mali . Famous balafon players have included: Gourd Gourd is occasionally used to describe crop plants in the family Cucurbitaceae, like pumpkins , cucumbers , squash , luffa , and melons . More specifically, gourd refers to
820-629: The Upper East Region of Ghana, as well as neighbouring Gurunsi populations across the border in south and central Burkina Faso. A dance related to the gyil is the Bewaa . The gyil's design is similar to the balaba or balafon used by the Mande -speaking Bambara , Dyula and Sosso peoples further west in southern Mali and western Burkina Faso , as well as the Senoufo people of Sikasso ,
861-463: The balangi in Sierra Leone and the gyil of the Dagara , Lobi and Gurunsi from Ghana , Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast . Similar instruments are played in parts of Central Africa , with the ancient Kingdom of Kongo denoting the instrument as palaku . Records of the balafon go back to at least the 12th century CE. In 1352 CE, Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta reported the existence of
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#1732790206617902-470: The fruits of plants in the two Cucurbitaceae genera Lagenaria and Cucurbita , or also to their hollow, dried-out shell. There are many different gourds worldwide. The main plants referred to as gourds include several species from the genus Cucurbita (mostly native to North America, including the Malabar gourd and turban squash ), Crescentia cujete (the tree gourd or calabash tree, native to
943-437: The ngoni and balafon at the court of Malian ruler Mansa Suleyman . European visitors to West Africa described balafons in the 17th century largely identical to the modern instrument. The Atlantic Slave Trade brought some balafon players to the Americas. The Virginia Gazette records African-Americans playing a barrafoo in 1776, which appears to be a balafon. Other North American references to these instruments die out by
984-482: The 1950s, bars sprang up across Cameroon's capital to accommodate an influx of new inhabitants, and soon became a symbol for Cameroonian identity in the face of colonialism. Balafon orchestras, consisting of 3–5 balafons and various percussion instruments became common in these bars. Some of these orchestras, such as Richard Band de Zoetele , became quite popular in spite of scorn from the European elite. The middle of
1025-706: The 19th century by the Scottish explorer Mungo Park . Currently, it is a threatened due to overexploitation , environmental degradation , and climatic changes . However, the tree is somewhat prolific and easy to cultivate, so reforestation efforts have shown some success. Other names for the tree include bani in Fulfulde , tolo in Djerma , wén in Wolof and ban in Serer . This Dalbergieae -related article
1066-452: The 20th century saw the popularisation of a native folk music called bikutsi . Bikutsi is based on a war rhythm played with various rattles , drums and balafon. Sung by women, bikutsi featured sexually explicit lyrics and songs about everyday problems. In a popularised form, bikutsi gained mainstream success in the 1950s. Anne-Marie Nzie was perhaps the most important of the early innovators. The next bikutsi performer of legendary stature
1107-536: The American tropics) and Lagenaria siceraria (bottle gourd, thought to be originally from Africa but present worldwide). Other plants with gourd in their name include the luffa gourd (likely domesticated in Asia), which includes several species from the genus Luffa , as well as the wax gourd , snake gourd , teasel gourd , hedgehog gourd , buffalo gourd /coyote gourd. The bitter melon /balsam apple/balsam pear
1148-527: The Americas appear to have come from the Asian subspecies very early in history, although a new study now indicates Africa. The archaeological and DNA records show it is likely that the gourd was among the first domesticated species, in Asia between 12,000 and 13,000 years before present , and possibly the first domesticated plant species. Wild, poisonous gourds ( Citrullus colocynthis ) were unknowingly added to
1189-712: The Kouyatés, and conveys upon them mastership of the balafon to this day. Historians Jan Jansen and Francis Simonis have argued that the Sosso Bala was in fact 'invented' as a historical artifact by the Kouyaté family in the 1970s. Regardless of the truth of this story, the Sosso Bala was named by UNESCO as one of the Nineteen Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001. The title of
1230-428: The balafon is kept in a temple storehouse, and can only be removed and played after undergoing purification rites. Specific instruments may be built to be only played for specific rituals and repertoires. Young adepts are trained not on the sacred instrument, but on free-key pit balafons. The gyil ( English: / ˈ dʒ ɪ l ə / or / ˈ dʒ iː l / ) is the name of a buzzing pentatonic balafon common to
1271-463: The balafon is often part of an ensemble of three, pitched low, medium and high. In Cameroon, six balafon of varying size perform together in an orchestra, called a komenchang . An Igbo variation exists with only one large tuned key for each player. And while in most cases a single player hits multiple keys with two mallets, some traditions place two or more players at each keyboard. The Susu and Malinké people of Guinea are closely identified with
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1312-615: The balafon, as are the other Manding peoples of Mali , Senegal , and the Gambia . Cameroon , Chad , and even the nations of the Congo Basin have long balafon traditions. Often, balafon players will wear belled bracelets on each wrist, accentuating the sound of the keys. In some cultures the balafon was (and in some still is) a sacred instrument, playable only by trained religious caste members and only at ritual events such as festivals, royal, funerial, or marriage celebrations. Here
1353-431: The characteristic nasal-buzz timbre of the instrument, which is usually played with two gum-rubber-wound mallets while seated on a low stool (or while standing using a shoulder or waist sling hooked to its frame). As the balafon cultures vary across West Africa, so does the approach to the instrument itself. In many areas the balafon is played alone in a ritual context, in others as part of an ensemble. In Guinea and Mali,
1394-569: The company of prophets' stew according to a story of Elisha in the Hebrew Bible . Elisha added flour to the stew in order to purify it. This interpretation of the verse is disputed by Rashi's interpretation, who translates it as poisonous mushrooms, not poisonous gourds. Gourds continued to be used throughout history in almost every culture throughout the world. European contact in North America found extensive gourd use, including
1435-477: The electric guitar by linking the strings together with pieces of paper, thus giving the instrument a damper tone that emitted a "thudding" sound similar to the balafon. The balafon, kora (lute-harp), and the ngoni (the ancestor of the banjo ) are the three instruments most associated with griot bardic traditions of West Africa. Each is more closely associated with specific areas, communities, and traditions, though all are played together in ensembles throughout
1476-468: The imported instrument. In the Malinké language balafon is a compound of two words: balan is the name of the instrument and fô is the verb to play . Balafon therefore is really the act of playing the bala . Bala still is used as the name of a large bass balafon in the region of Kolokani and Bobo Dioulasso . These bala have especially long keys and huge calabashes for amplification. Balani
1517-471: The mid-19th century. The balafon has seen a resurgence since the 1980s in the growth of African Roots Music and World Music . Most famous of these exponents is the Rail Band , led by Salif Keita . Even when not still played, its distinctive sound and traditional style has been exported to western instruments. Maninka from eastern Guinea play a type of guitar music that adapts balafon playing style to
1558-508: The region. Guinea has been the historic heartland of solo balafon. As griot culture is a hereditary caste, the Kouyaté family has been called the keepers of the balafon , and twentieth century members of this family have helped introduce it throughout the world. The Sosso Bala is a balafon, currently kept in the town of Niagassola , Guinea that is reputed to be the original balafon, constructed over 800 years ago. The Epic of Sundiata ,
1599-453: The unpleasant taste while retaining the nutritional and medicinal values of the plants. These include Teasle gourd ( Momordica dioica ) , Spine gourd ( Momordica subangulata ), Sweet gourd ( Momordica cochinchinensis ), balsam apple ( Momordica balsamina ) and Momordica sahyadrica . Cultures from arid regions often associate gourds with water , and they appear in many creation myths . Since before human written history, they have had
1640-593: The use of bottle gourds as birdhouses to attract purple martins , which provided bug control for agriculture. Almost every culture had musical instruments made of gourds, including drums, stringed instruments common to Africa and wind instruments, including the nose flutes of the Pacific. Scientists in India have been working on crossbreeding six members of the Momordica (bitter gourd) genus found in India to reduce
1681-567: Was Messi Me Nkonda Martin and his band, Los Camaroes , who added electric guitars and other new elements. Balafon orchestras had remained popular throughout the 50s in Yaoundé's bar scene, but the audience demanded modernity and the popular style at the time was unable to cope. Messi Martin was a Cameroonian guitarist who had been inspired to learn the instrument by listening to Spanish language -broadcasts from neighboring Equatorial Guinea , as well as Cuban and Zairean rumba . Messi changed