In Zimbabwean music, mbira music is music played on an instrument called mbira, a traditional instrument of the Shona people of Zimbabwe. To many people Mbira music appears extremely repetitive, or cyclical. However, in most Mbira music, there are minute variations, suggestive of the minimalist movement in western music. As usual in African music, rhythm plays an important part. The rhythms are often quite intricate and to some extent dictate the form of the melody.
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The peaceful, lulling, polyrhythmic cycles of the Shona mbira music of Zimbabwe have become a world-music staple. The standard mbira dzavadzimu consists of 22 iron prongs tightly clamped to a hard slab of mubvaropa wood, which acts as a soundboard.
Traditional Shona Mbira music is typically composed to two different parts, the Kushaura (meaning "to lead" or "to start") and the Kutsinhira (meaning "to follow". Each part is played on two different mbiras, with the kushaura often being the more simple part, and the kutsinhira more complicated.
We need to guard against our rich musical values for future generations....
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