What does the word mbira mean?

Definition of mbira

How did the mbira get its name?

The thumb piano, or mbira – a name derived from Shona language of Zimbabwe - is uniquely African percussion instrument. In the distant past it was made entirely of wood or bamboo and could have been used for a few thousand years.

What is another name for the mbira?

mbira, also called mbila sansa, kilembe, likembe, timbrh, or thumb piano, plucked idiophone (instrument whose sounding parts are resonant solids belonging to the body of the instrument itself)—or more specifically, a lamellaphone—that is unique to Africa and widely distributed throughout the continent.

Is the mbira spiritual?

Mbira: Zimbabwe's Spiritually Quintessential Musical Instrument.

Where did mbira originated?

The story goes that the mbira first appeared on the West African coast in wood or bamboo, before receiving the adornment of metallic keys on the banks of the Zambezi River 1500 years ago. Unlike the guembri of the Gnawas, or the Hindu sitar, the mbira is not the instrument of a single people.

What is the difference between a kalimba and a mbira?

While there are a few subtle differences between the kalimba and the mbira, including a double row of keys on the mbira and a single row of keys on the kalimba, the major difference between the two instruments is in their scales.

Why is the mbira important?

The most important function of mbira is as a “telephone to the spirits”, used to contact both deceased ancestors and even more ancient tribal guardians, at all-night bira (pl. mapira) ceremonies.

What is the importance of mbira?

The mbira dza vadzimu is very significant in Shona religion and culture, considered a sacred instrument by the Shona people. It is usually played to facilitate communication with ancestral spirits, bringing the spirit of the dead back on its homestead.

What sound does a mbira make?

When the keys of the mbira are struck, they ring on in the gourd resonator with rich and sonorous tones "like bells," as one musician has suggested, or like flutes, as a line of classic poetry accompanying mbira music implies.

What are slit drums made of?

A slit drum or slit gong is a hollow percussion instrument. In spite of the name, it is not a true drum but an idiophone, usually carved or constructed from bamboo or wood into a box with one or more slits in the top. Most slit drums have one slit, though two and three slits (cut into the shape of an "H") occur.

Who invented mbira?

The first mbira instruments (kalimbas) are believed to have been made in the Zambezi River Valley region around 1300 years ago. similar types of instruments are found across Africa.

What is the mbira made out of?

The mbira is made of 22 to 28 metal keys attached to a hardwood soundboard called the gwariva, usually placed inside a large gourd to amplify the sound. The metal keys are plucked with both thumbs and the forefinger of the right hand. The thumbs pluck downward on the keys.

How old is the mbira?

A wooden version of the mbira - with bamboo tines instead of metal - was first created in West Africa 3,000 years ago. The version that exists today, with metal tines, has been around for 1,300 years.

What is the mbira quizlet?

The mbira is a African musical instrument consisting of a wooden board (often fitted with a resonator) with attached staggered metal tines, played by holding the instrument in the hands and plucking the tines with the thumbs. The mbira is usually classified as part of the lamellaphone family.

How many types of mbira are there?

Scroll down to read the article. About twelve major types of mbira are played at the present day by the peoples of the central and lower Zambezi valley and en- virons.

What is Zimbabwe traditional dance?

The Jerusarema dance and the Muchongoyo dance are two of the most important, distinctive dances in Zimbabwe, and are both accompanied by drums. Both of these dances are traditional, and can be recognized by the people almost immediately upon the first few movements of the dance.

What is the most distinct feature of mbira?

What Is the Most Distinct Feature of Mbira? The way in which you play the mbira is distinct. You stroke or pluck keys with your thumbs. The resulting sound is reflective and pastoral, reminiscent of the traditions behind its creation.

Where is Mbakumba dance originated from?

Mbakumba originated among the Karanga used to celebrate good harvests but now essentially performed for social purposes (Zimbabwe Encyclopedia 1987:102). It is a celebratory dance performed at weddings, beer parties and other joyful occasions.

Who plays the mbira?

Tafadzwa Mavhudzi, plays the mbira in Harare, Zimbabwe. She has been playing the traditional instrument for four years. Mavhudzi, who goes by the stage name Haruna, is a member of a local band called Hweva. She joined the eight-member band in 2016, playing the mbira at performances across Harare.

Where does kalimba come from?

This kalimba is a lamellaphone idiophone inspired by indigenous Bantu African instruments and manufactured in the Republic of South Africa.

Are harps string instruments?

harp, stringed instrument in which the resonator, or belly, is perpendicular, or nearly so, to the plane of the strings. Each string produces one note, the gradation of string length from short to long corresponding to that from high to low pitch. The resonator is usually of wood or skin.

Can you teach yourself kalimba?

There is no secret that kalimba is one of the easiest instruments you can learn. Unlike the regular piano, you won't have dozens of keys, and complex chords and scales you should learn. This means that beginners that possess even a hint of musicality can learn to play something in a matter of minutes.

How much does kalimba cost?

Kalimbas range in price from $20 up to and over $100 for a very very good one. There is no need to spend a fortune on a Kalimba.