A balafon is a pentatonic African xylophone consisting of strips of wood lined up in ascending order. Underneath are calabash resonators with fine membrane-covered holes.

The shorter the strips of wood the higher the sound. A typical balafon can produce between 18 and 21 different notes, depending on the number of strips. A balafon can be pitched low, medium or high and is generally accompanied by one or two other balafons, as well as by other traditional percussion instruments.

It is the oldest Mandinka instrument and, like the kora, is traditionally played by griots (tribal poets and musicians).