photograph by kali van der merwe
Mbira
The mbira instrument of the Zezuru group of the Shona people of Zimbabwe consists of 22 to 28 metal keys mounted on a gwariva (a hard wood soundboard) made from the mubvamaropa tree (pterocarpus angolensis). Although the metal keys were originally smelted directly from rock containing iron ore, now they may be made from sofa springs or the shock absorbers of the modern couches, bicycle spokes, car set springs and recycled steel materials. The mbira is usually placed inside a large calabash resonator, deze, in Shona, to amplify it. A mutsigo or stick is used to wedge the mbira securely inside the calabash or deze. The mbira is played with the two thumbs stroking down and the right forefinger stroking up.
Either metal beads strung on a wire, or bottle tops or shells mounted on a metal plate, are placed on the lower portion of the mbira soundboard to add a buzz which varies from a soft hiss to a tambourine like sound. Bottle tops or shells are also attached to and mounted on the deze to increase the buzz. The buzz is considered to be the essential part of the mbira sound, required to clear the mind of thoughts and worries so that the mbira music can fill the consciousness of the performers and listeners. The buzz adds the depth and context to the clear tones of the mbira keys, and may be heard as whispering voices, singing, tapping, knocking, wind or rain.
There are many different mbira tunings, according to personal preference but played together should generally agree in tuning. If the same sequence of keys is played, the music is considered to be the same mbira piece, even if played on instruments tuned with completely different intervals .i.e. a gandanga (outlaw tuning) also known as mavembe (people with speech defects) tuning, has a different interval relationship between keys than the more common nyamaropa tuning. The pitch of the mbira is also a matter of personal preference, ranging from high to very deep. Each instrument has a range of three octaves, or slightly more.
Tradition of Mbira music
An mbira piece consists of a basic cyclical pattern which includes numerous intertwined melodies, often with contrasting rhythms. The extensive possibilities for rhythm and melodic variation render each performance unique. When two mbiras are played together, the interlocking parts result in a rich polyphony and polyrhythms.
A traditional repertoire of hundreds of pieces is transmitted from generation to to generation, and pieces popular today are known to have been played over 700 years ago. At traditional Zimbabwean ceremonies, ancestors, mapira, are called by performing their favourite songs, thus the same pieces are retained in the repertoire over the centuries!
The role of the mbira in the Shona culture
Mbira the name of both the instrument and the music, is mystical music which has been played for over a thousand years by the certain tribes of the Shona people, a group which forms the vast majority of the Zimbabwean population and extends into Mozambique. Mbira pervades all aspects of Shona culture both sacred and secular. Its most important function is as a telephone to the spirits used to contact both deceased ancestors and tribal guardians at all night ceremonies. At these ceremonies vadzimu or spirits of family ancestors, mhondoro, spirits of deceased chiefs, and makombwe, the most powerful guardian spirits of the Shona people, give guidance on family and community matters and exert power over weather and health.
Mbira is required to bring rain during drought, stop floods and bring clouds when crops are burnt by the sun. Mbira is used to chase away harmful spirits and to cure illnesses with or without a n'anga, a traditional healer or herbalist. Mbira is included in celebrations of all kinds, including weddings, installation of new chiefs and more recently government events such as Independence Day and international conferences. Mbira is also required at death ceremonies and is played for a week following a chief s death or a mbira player's death. It available for those who request it before they die, certain people do ......I have played in spaces like this in Zimbabwe! At the guva ceremony approximately one year after a person's physical death, mbira is used to welcome that individual's spirit back to the community. The mbira is desired for the general qualities it imparts a peaceful mind and strong life force.
In previous centuries, court musicians played mbira for Shona kings and their diviners. Although the mbira was originally used in limited number of Shona areas. Today it is popular throughout Zimbabwe. The Shona mbira is rapidly becoming known around the world ,due to tours by both traditional musicians and Zimbabwean electric bands which include the mbira.
During Zimbabwe's colonial period (when it was known as Rhodesia) missionaries taught that mbira was evil and the popularity of mbira in Zimbabwe declined. Since independence in 1980, mbira has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity. Traditional musicians remind their communities that mbira is played to encourage the spirits which protect the land and people of Zimbabwe neither mbira nor the the spirits should be neglected if Zimbabweans wish to enjoy health and prosperity. As for the phenomenon of foreigners playing the mbira, Zimbabweans report that their spirits are more pleased with non Shona mbira players than with some of their own descendants who have turned away from the tradition .
