Mbira artists hold traditional ceremony

Mbira Dzenharira

The recently formed Dare reMagwenyambira Mbira Association will host their second mbira affair dubbed “Bira reChando”, a traditional ceremony to observe the coming of the winter season at Norton Culture Centre on Saturday.

Chiwoniso, Black Bird in collaboration

Chiwoniso Maraire

Mbira maestro Chiwoniso Maraire and hip-hop rapper Black Bird have combined voices to come up with a new version of Ndofandichibayiwa, a song previously performed by Maraire. Black Bird (real name Nonku Vundla) said she was happy to work with Maraire to come up with such collaboration. She said she would learn more in the industry through working with such an experienced artist.

I am happy to collaborate with Chiwoniso as this helps me to gain more knowledge and experience within this male-dominated industry, said Black Bird. It is wonderful when a woman reaches out to another woman as there are very few women who are willing to help each other. The song Ndofandichibayiwa, which has also been used as the theme song in a recent movie directed by Rumbidzai Katedza, Playing Warriors, carries a theme relevant to the girl child and society.

Hatcliffe-based mbira group, Rovambira tours the US

Hatcliffe-based mbira group, Rovambira, will on Wednesday leave the country for a tour of America, where they have been invited to take part in the African Cultural Festival (ACF). The group has been nominated to represent Zimbabwe at a festival to be held in California this month. During their tour, the eight-member group will also perform at a concert dubbed One World, One Love where Afro-American artists will also perform to help bridge the gap between the two cultures. 

Mbira - Zimbabwe's Rich Musical Instrument

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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