The mbira, also known as the “thumb piano,” is a distinctive Zimbabwean percussion instrument. As an idiophone, it features resonant solid components integrated into its…
Mbira: the Entrancing Zimbabwean Thumb Piano
Tag: mbira
An interview with Ephat Mujuru
Shona Spirit: Passing On the Ancestral Music …with excerpts from an article by Banning Eyre. While Zimbabweans fought and died to topple their Rhodesian oppressors in…
Lokalophon Announces Rare Mbira Album from The Zonke Family
The Lokalophon label has announced the release of “The Zonke Family at the Studio.” This recording features the traditional music of the Marembe people, who…
Mbira Master Cosmas Magaya Dies at 67
Zimbabwean mbira maestro and cultural ambassador Cosmas Magaya died on July 10th, 2020 of coronavirus. Cosmas Magaya recorded essential mbira albums and traveled extensively and…
The Mbira Visits Appalachia
The New Line – Can’t Hold The Wheel (independent release, 2013) American multi-instrumentalist and composer Brendan Taaffe founded The New Line, an ensemble that brought…
Zimbabwe Artist Hope Masike Releases The Exorcism Of A Spinster
Hope Masike, a vocalist from Zimbabwe who plays the historically male-dominated mbira (thumb piano) has a new album titled The Exorcism of a Spinster. This…
Artist Profiles: Hope Masike
Hope Masike is a Zimbabwean vocalist, mbira player, percussionist, songwriter, fashion designer, painter and dancer. She is known as “The Princess of Mbira” and her…
The Early Works of the Queen of Mbira
Stella Chiweshe – Kasahwa: Early Singles (Glitterbeat, 2018) Kasahwa: Early Singles introduces a set of rare early recordings by Zimbabwean mbira (thumb piano) pioneer Stella…
Artist Profiles: Stella Chiweshe
Stella Rambisai Chiweshe was one of the first African women to enter the male dominated world of the mbira (Zimbabwean sanza or thumb piano). Stella…
Finely Crafted A Je
Monoswezi – A Je (Riverboat Records TUG1103, 2017) Transnational band Monoswezi, led by Hallvard Godal has released another fine example of African and world fusion.…