The mbira (also called kalimba or zanza) is a traditional lamellophone of the Shona peoples of Zimbabwe. It is one of the most iconic instruments of southern Africa, used for over 1300 years.
Construction
The mbira consists of a wooden board (or formerly bamboo) on which metal tines of varying lengths are attached. The shorter tines produce high notes, and the longer ones the low notes. The player holds the mbira in one hand and plucks the tines with their thumbs, producing a melodic and enchanting sound. Gourd seeds or metal boxes (the shaker) are often attached underneath the board to produce a drone and attract spirits.
History and Spiritual Use
The mbira is used in ritual ceremonies to invoke the spirits of ancestors and communicate with them. It is played during religious ceremonies, weddings, and funerals. In 2020, UNESCO inscribed the art of the mbira on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (Art of crafting and playing mbira — Sambi, finger-plucking traditional musical instrument in Malawi and Zimbabwe).
Variations
The mbira spread throughout southern Africa with different names: likembe and sanza in the Congo, kadongo in Uganda, kalimba in Kenya. In South Africa, variations include the mbira dzimba and the koto. The musician Hugh Tracey marketed a simplified version in the 1950s, popularizing the lamellophone outside Africa.
Notable Players
- Elijah Sholo — pioneer of the mbira in contemporary music
- Thomas Mapfumo — legend of Zimbabwean music, incorporates the mbira into his compositions
- Jah Prayzah — contemporary Zimbabwean artist
- Don Chimwemwe — renowned master mbira player