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Shona - Zimbabwe - Mbira
One of the world's most beautiful, joyful, and spiritual musical traditions comes from the Shona people of Zimbabwe. Their primary traditional instrument is the mbira, which is constructed by mounting 22-28 metal keys onto a hardwood soundboard. The keys are plucked with both thumbs and the right forefinger. The mbira is often placed inside a resonating gourd called deze.
In modern times, Shona mbira music has been adapted to marimbas and guitars. It has spread around the world. Credit must be given to the late Dumisani Maraire, who was largely responsible for introducing Shona music to North America, where there are now dozens of marimba bands and hundreds of mbira players.
I first heard Shona music in the 1970's on a recording of Dumi and his students playing marimbas. Years later, I joined a marimba band in Boulder, CO, and began studying the karimba, which is a modern type of mbira with 15 keys and a plywood resonating box. Since then, I've played in several marimba bands, and have been studying and playing the mbira dzaVadzimu, or mbira of the ancestors.
RhythmJoy
Geoff Johns & Carol Lutra-Johns
10354 SW Mukai Circle, Vashon Island, WA, 98070
Tel - 206.567.5822
Designed and programmed by
TerraRhythm
Engineering Global Media for Vibrant Change
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Mbira can be played solo and in groups