Balangi

A Xylophone-like musical instrument, called a balangi , or balanjii , consisting of a series of wooden tone bars or keys attached to a wooden frame with small gourd resonators underneath, played with two beaters. It is particularly associated with the Kuranko, and other ethno-linguistic groups of Mande origin, in northern Sierra Leone. This one has 21 wooden rungs and 17 gourd fruits underneath.

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Further Information

• Type: Musical instruments
• Object: Balangi
• Materials: Wood, Vegetable, organic fibre
• Culture Group: Mende
• Dimensions: 240mm x 415mm [L]
• Production Date: Pre 1960
• Associated Places: Unknown
• Associated People: Guy Massie-Taylor (Collector)
• Museum: Glasgow Museums
• Accession Number: GLAMG:A.1985.13.em

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