The balaphone is a resonated frame, wooden keyed percussion instrument of West Africa; part of the idiophone family of tuned percussion instruments (that includes the xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel, and the vibraphone).
Sound is produced by striking the tuned keys with two padded sticks. Buzzing resonators add the classic West African sound.
Balaphon are tuned diatonically, but not always to C.