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Transcript/ScriptIvory Coast Xylophones - Amontchi
HEADLINE: Ivory Coast Project Aims to Raise Awareness of a Traditional Instrument
TEASER: Makers of the balafon, a West African xylophone that has calabash gourds for soundboxes, share their knowledge with rest of world
PUBLISHED AT:
BYLINE: Alain Amontchi
WRITER: Salem Solomon
DATELINE: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST
VIDEOGRAPHER:
VIDEO EDITOR: Betty Ayoub
SCRIPT EDITORS: KEnochs; Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Original
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO__
TRT: 1:56
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:
((INTRO))
[[In 2012, UNESCO, the U.N. body tasked with promoting arts and culture, identified the traditional xylophone known as the balafon as an important part of humanity’s cultural heritage. Today, in Ivory Coast, informal workshops with students are underway to promote the instrument and highlight its African origins. Alain Amontchi looks at this unique instrument in this story narrated by Salem Solomon.]]
((NARRATOR))
In a workshop in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, balafon manufacturing is a tradition for the Seydou family. Here, craftsmen make five to seven balafons per month.
The musical instrument is a light wooden structure tied together with leather straps. The keys, or blades, are pieces of hardwood of increasing size and height with calabash gourds attached below to form sound boxes.
((Keita Seydou, Balafon Manufacturer)) ((In French))
“If you have thirty blades, the balafon must necessarily take thirty calabashes. Because each blade has its calabash.”
((NARRATOR))
Large high-quality balafons cost about 800 dollars each in Ivory Coast. In Europe, they can go for over 2-thousand dollars.
Ibrahim Diabate is a balafon teacher who emigrated to Spain. But he returns home every year to Ivory Coast to recharge and find new sounds and balafons.
((Ibrahima Diabate, Balafon Teacher)) ((In French))
“When I arrived in Europe, I found that people know the importance of the balafon. But here people see as commonplace. It doesn’t matter. We have to value it. It's very
important because in Spain they value the balafon. They call it the Marimba.”
((NARRATOR))
During a balafon teaching session, 16-year-old student Imran Sabbrah discovers the instrument for the first time.
((Imran Sabbah, High School Student)) ((In French))
“It's really amazing because the way it's made, and it's hand-crafted. And I think more people need to play it.”
((NARRATOR))
The Seydou brothers say they will continue to produce balafons to make sure this cultural treasure survives and spread their musical knowledge to the world.
((For Alain Amontchi in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Salem Solomon, VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST
Embargo DateMarch 6, 2023 16:32 EST
BylineFor Alain Amontchi in Abidjan,
Ivory Coast, Salem Solomon, VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
