Zimbabwean Music

A detailed Summary of Zimbabwean Music

During the time of white colonization and Christian missionary work in Zimbabwe, there

was a significant decline in traditional music. Then, in the 1960s, along with emerging

Zimbabwean nationalism and world-wide recognition of black culture, there was a new

recognition and valuing of traditional Shona and Ndebele music (the two main tribal groups in

The classic instrument of Zimbabwe is the mbira. The mbira has been in use by the Shona

people since at least the Monomotapa dynasty of the 16th and 17th centuries. It usually consists of

22 metal keys or lamellas, which are fastened at one end to a wooden resonator body, though

number of keys can vary from 8 to over 50. The free protruding ends of the lamellas are plucked

with the thumb of the left hand and the thumb and index finger of the right hand. An entire genre

of music developed around the mbira, which includes subtypes based on instrument variations,

customs of playing, song texts, and musical functions.

A major characteristic of mbira playing is similar to that of other musical genres in other

parts of Africa - an artistic technique called "interlocking" of parts by individual players. The

musical product is such that individual parts cannot be separa

into a new musical form which is often called chimurenga-pop. In fact, Mapfumo is credited with

"hosho." The ancestors are believed to serve as mediators between humans and God (Mwari).

ted out, but must be considered as a

of any artist during that period. According to Tony Rivet who now works for GRAMMA

Sounds Band, Springfield Rifle, The Valley Association, The Eye of Liberty, and Jupiter.

songs were in Shona or Ndebele, the authorities apparently had trouble understanding the deeper

Other spirit beings more powerful than the ancestors emerge from Mwari himself - their help is

chipendani or one-string fiddle, the madare or ankle bells, and the ngoma or drums. All have

traditional music styles and rhythms by popular dance bands with modern instrumentation.

Crooners, and Jazz Revelers. These were the first groups to be recorded when broadcasting on

saxophone, and drums), and later Mashonaland Melodians, Wood Woodpeckers, Gold Rhythm

the struggle for independence, and thus put their lives in danger. However, since most of the

among the freedom fighters. One of the best known singers of freedom or chimurenga songs was

Every day at 8 pm, Radio Mozambique broadcast a program called the Voice of Zimbabwe, in

Approximate Word count = 1497
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Music

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