Balafon Boombakini Cajón – Wood is Beautiful

11.15.2009 // Films, Interdimensional Artists // Rucyl // No Comments

Among the Senufo people of northern Côte d’Ivoire, the balafon (xylophone with calabash resonators) is an emblematic musical instrument. Returning to Senufo country 40 years after his first encounter with balafon music in 1958, ethnomusicologist Hugo Zemp recalls memories of this and subsequent visits in the early 60s.

The Boombakini is a musical instrument and percussion box designed by Fellé Vega from Dominican Republic. Done with precious wood: Imbuya, Ebony, Rose Wood, Caoba. It has the particularity of being played as a substitute of congas, bongos, Dominican tambora, Cuban Bata… and the characteristics of a pressed leather sound.

The cajón was most likely developed in coastal Peru during the early 1800s. The instrument reached a peak in popularity by 1850, and by the end of the 19th century cajón players were experimenting with the design of the instrument by bending some of the planks in the cajón’s body to alter the instrument’s patterns of sound vibration. [via wikipedia]

Wood is beautiful.

Artist Jokke-svin’s tribute to wood.

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