- Zim Music Primer -
Primer >> Traditional Instruments
From mbiras to marimbas, the traditional music of the Shona people of Northern and Central Zimbabwe encorporates a number of percussive instruments to create a beautiful melodic and rhythmic effect.
Mbira
Dzavadzimu
Photo © Chris
Steele.
The
mbira dzavadzimu, or the mbira "of our ancestors",
is used by the Zezuru group of the Shona people of Zimbabwe. The dzavadzimu
is comprised of 22 to 26 metal keys fastened to a hardwood soundboard.
The keys, which were once made of iron, now tend to be made of steel.
Played with the thumbs and right forefinger, the keys can be tuned differently
to hit different notes. The mbira is played inside a zeze, a
hollowed gourd which acts as a resonator. For an additional percussive
effect, beads and bottle caps may be attached to the rim of the zeze
to create a buzzing sound.
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Links mbira.org >> Instrument |
Clips (RealAudio) Spirit
Talk Mbira >> Nyuchi |
Mbiras are often played along with hosho, or shakers, in the background. The hosho is a hollowed gourd with rocks or beans inside to produce a rattling or shaking sound. Singing is common in traditional music as well.
Mbira
Nyunga Nyunga
Photo
© Chris
Steele.
Despite having its roots in Western Mozambique, the mbira nyunga nyunga is similar to the mbira dzavadzimu. A member of the kalimba family, the nyunga nyunga is also fastened to a hardwood soundboard. However, it tends to have fewer keys, usually no more than 15. As with the dzavadzimu, it played with the thumbs and right forefinger. The nyunga nyunga is widely used and taught in Zimbabwe.
Other mbira types include the matepe, a 52-key mbira, and the njari, a 32-key mbira.
Marimba
|
Links Greg Latta >> Marimba |
Clips (mp3) |
The marimba is much more than a big xylophone. A newcomer to the music scene, the marimba was developed in the 1960s in Bulawayo, and has easily found its way into Zim music ever since. The marimba is comprised of multiple hardwood keys, which are struck with mallets. The keys resonate into resonators, which hang suspended under the playing surface. Soprano, tenor, and bass marimbas exist. Marimbas are very expensive; they can cost as much as a decent piano! The marimba has spread to Central America and Europe and is widely used.
