centre of the drumhead with a flat, outstretched hand) to tone and slap sounds, which have a higher pitch, created by striking the drumhead closer to its edge with only fingertips. The greater tension of the drumhead skin towards the edge of the drum causes this higher-pitched note. The djembe plays an important role in traditional music as it is seen as a way to communicate emotional experiences in communal situations. The emphasis on the djembe and many other drums as having the ability to 'talk' shows how these drums are valued for their communication purposes. The sounds of the West African djembe are growing increasingly popular in the Western world. Guinean musician Fodéba Keïta incorporated use of the djembe throughout the 1950s worldwide tour of his dance company, Les Ballets Africains, which performed various traditional West African songs and dances. This considerably increased knowledge of the djembe and other West African instruments throughout Europe and Asia. Some West African drummers famed for their djembe proficiency are Famadou Konaté, Mamady Keïta, Babatunde Olatunji and Abdoulaye Diakité. These people are what is known throughout Africa as master drummers. Balafon The balafon is an instrument similar to the xylophone in Western countries. A member of the idiophone family of instruments, the balafon is used by many Griots and is commonly found in Brikama, a location of great cultural and musical depth. Guinea's Susu and Mandinka peoples also regularly use the balafon in their traditional song and dance. To create a sound, wooden keys on a bamboo structure are struck with gum-rubber mallets. A balafon typically has 17 to 21 keys, comprising three to four octaves in pentatonic or diatonic tuning. The number of keys on a balafon depends on their width and the desired pitch. Wide keys produce a sound with a low pitch, while narrower keys produce a higher-pitched sound. An instrument of great cultural significance, the balafon has many complex stories behind it, however many regional narratives state that supernatural beings gifted the balafon and the skills to play it to a specific ancestor. This ancestor then passed the musical knowledge down to younger generations. Balafon music is considered to be very similar to speaking, as it produces tonalities which are similar to human voices. As a result, the balafon can be used for political or social commentary, replacing lyrics with tones. Stringed instruments Stringed instruments have been an important