1. Plural of balafon; wooden percussion instruments with tuned wooden bars and resonating gourds, used in West African music.
Usage: Also called a balophone or African xylophone; Common in Malian, Guinean, and other West African musical traditions

Examples

• The musician played a series of balafons during the traditional West African performance.
• Balafons are often featured in Malian orchestras and ensemble music.
• The resonant tones of the balafons filled the concert hall with warm, melodic sounds.
• She learned to play balafons as part of her study of African percussion instruments.
• The balafons in the museum collection showed intricate craftsmanship from the 19th century.