Dimensions: 38" l., 20" w., 15" h.
The gyil is a pentatonic gourd-resonated xylophone found among the Dagara, Lobi, Sisaala, and neighboring peoples of northern Ghana and southern Burkina Faso. This Pan-African Arts-crafted offering features 8 cherry keys; underneath each key are gourds fitted with mirlitons, which emit the characteristic "buzz" when the instrument is played.

Note: The keys won't resonate properly if the plastic mirlitons covering the gourd resonators are punctured or become detached from the gourd. If either should happen, you can replace the mirlitons by cutting pieces from a plastic grocery shopping bag and gluing them over the holes in the gourds. Another thing that affects the sound of the instrument is mirlitons that are too taut or too loose; in either case, gently depress the mirlitons with a finger.

Note, too: In many areas, rubber tapped directly from trees traditionally is used to wrap mallets; In Ghana, however, mallets tend to be cut from sections of automobile or truck tires.

For examples of the instrument in play, see the following videos (www.youtube.com): "Gyile, Xylo - 'Sisala' from Northern Ghana by Owuo"; "Ghanaian Gyil Duet - Bobojilasso"; "Aaron Bebe Gyil Solo"; "Ganda Yina"; "Yichir Maal playing Gyil - Ghana 2008"; "Alfred Kpebesanne, Xylophone Player from Ghana"; "Search for the Spiderweb."