West African Music Instrument

Xalam, also spelt khalam is the wolof (a language spoken in Senegal, the Gambia and Mauritania) name for a traditional stringed musical instrument from West Africa. The xalam was originally thought to have originated from modern-day Mali but some believe that in antiquity, the instrument may have come from ancient Egypt. It is also believed to be the ancestor to the American banjo.

Someone who plays the xalam is called a xalamkat (a word composed of the verbal form of xalam, meaning "to play the xalam," and the agentive suffix -kat, thus meaning "one who xalams")

The xalam in its standard form is a simple lute chordophone with one to five strings. The wooden body (the soundbox) of the instrument is oval-shaped and covered with the hide of cattle. The strings of the xalam is typically made up of two or three tightly wound strands of low-gauge nylon fishing line. These are fixed to the instruments wooden neck by long, narrow leather strips and to the wooden bridge by cotton strings. By moving these strips the instrument’s tune can be adjusted. Most xalam players (or xalamkat) construct their own xalams although they usually call on woodworkers to card the body, neck and bridge for them.

While living and working in Guinea, I bought a xalam (pictured in all the above photos) at a village market. Mine has EIGHT strings so I wonder if I inadvertently acquired an ethnic Gibson. Mmm?

I can definitely hear notes when I pick at the strings but most need tightening. I’ll have to wait for hubby to come home and fix my xalam for me.