The Mbira: the music and meaning

Thabo Muleya, a Multaka-Oxford volunteer from Zimbabwe, explains the long history of the mbira in Southern Africa and its cultural significance, especially to the Shona people.

[@FrancescPunsola]

Very interesting history, now I'm fascinated with this instrument, its sound is powerfull.

[@couragedzvaka3924]

Im C Dzvaka , I play njari type of mbira. Its about to face extinction, I think it will be good to have it protected. Thank you for trying to make the world see the truth. The youth used to play karimba where they played songs of their ages. But the major types of mbira which where historically common in revoking the spirits are 1) mbira dzevadzimu like the one you are holding. 2) njari mbira this type of mbira has many keys and is difficult to play or even teach someone. So most people chose to show case types of mbira which are easy to play and display them as the entire history of mbira. These two types of mbira were the major ones played in Zimbabwe back then. We also have other types of mbira like matepe and nyonganyonga these mbira are originally from Mozambique . Nyonganyon do have very few key, easy to make , does not evoke our ancestors and became the major mbira to be played in schools. Indirectly this type of mbira is being showcased more than the actual mbiras that evoke our spirits eg. Njari mbira and mbiradzevadzimu. Matepe can also do but for a small group of people historically associated with Mozambican people. They only got the chance to take their mbira to the international community even though Mbiradzevadzimu and Njari mbira marks the real and truthful history of mbira in Zimbabwe. Njari mbira is very difficult to play, I can play it very well. I wanted to open a youtube account but does not have the know how and controls. My email is( [e-mail] ) i want to have the njari mbira equally known . I can sensationally play this mbira with a passion. Communication can yield us good . thank you

[@cathytai]

I am learning to play a 35 key Mbira, I can't imagine how difficult a njari would be. How could we help save this instrument from vanishing? Are there still artisans who craft them? I would consider ordering one if you could point me to a teacher so I can learn to play it.

[@karik.8291]

@@cathytai There is a project online (Sympathetic Resonances) trying to collect data and stop the diversity of mbira types from going extinct, njari is on there among others. You can find general information on the different types of instruments and efforts to make them more popular. If you make a free user account, you can access song notations and also make/store your own - the idea is to make it possible to learn the instruments even if you don't have access to a teacher. If you write the creator of the website an e-mail, he could maybe also tell you how to get in contact with a mbira maker that can craft njari. (I wrote this comment before, came back to the video and couldn't find it anymore. So I assume it was deleted because I tried to post a link to the site - apologies though if I've made a mistake and you're seeing this comment twice :D)

[@charlesokoro654]

The tongue instruments are over Africa. The mbira is the Zimbabwe version.

[@XolaniMzilikazi-qy8vf]

The mbira was invented by the Shona

[@couragedzvaka3924]

I can play a type of mbira called njari

[@mbizi4573]

That specific Mbira and other variations, I would say yes. But other kinds of "mbira" have been played in east Africa and some parts of Congo for hundreds of years

[@malcolmplumridge2367]

Masvita shamwari.

[@iceprada2]

I saw a lady(Kalimba youtube channel) saying the "kalimba" is not an African instrument..I was instantly infuriated. Trying to differentiate the concept Hugh Tracey stole from the Mbira. Whether you tune it different and make it fancy, it's still a Mbira. We know how they like to rewrite history for their own benefit.