Mbira Music evokes spiritual feelings – Gweru Mbira Crew
“When I first heard the sound of the mbira, I wanted to hear more and more. I couldn’t stop it, I was sick until I learned to play, so
I could hear these sounds, said Stella Rambisai Chiweshe, Mbira Queen’s teacher from Zimbabwe.
The above experience is not unique to Stella, as she is known to her legions of fans. Those were the same feelings that drove the only one
Mbira music ensemble in Gweru, Midlands Mbira Crew to the traditional rhythm.
The group is the brainchild of three mbira enthusiasts, Trymore Marowa,
Chigama Hope and James Chiguvare formed in November of last year.
The trio reveal that while playing and listening to Mbira’s beat,
“absorbed in the spiritual world”, they become possessed with
ancestral powers “that can get rid of the evils of society.”
Martin Mgwagwa, the group’s manager, said that the witty’s feelings
The way the ancestors lived made them play mbira music, an art that he says is
“It is innate and does not need formal education.”
He added that the traditional rhythm is unique, compared to others like
Sungura as one plays using instruments that are not connected to
external cables.
“Mbira as part of artistic music is different from Sungura music which is
played with wires connected to electricity for entertainment. Mbira’s music penetrates the depths of his heart through feelings that cannot be touched or seen “,
Mgwagwa said.
“We play mbira to express our feelings, as well as that of
my community using typical instruments of own descent made by ourselves that we want
to preserve our children as a culture, “he added.
Mgwagwa revealed that Mbira music reminds the people of Zimbabwe about the way of life of their ancestors before the advent of television and radio. He said that like
Christianity, traditional life can be captured and preserved through
playing mbira to the people of Gweru.
Mbira’s music is more important for social and economic problems than for politics. As the Midlands Mbira Crew, we receive invitations from all over the world.
country to act, especially where there will be spirit mediums (mhondoro) or where there will be ceremonies to bless new buildings
or to cleanse evil spirits.
“We have seen many artists die of HIV / AIDS and if you play Mbira dzechivanhu, it works like
a carton that disciplines and cleanses evil. Midlands Mbira Crew, namely Trymore Marowa, Hope Chagama, James
Chiguvare, Owen Mbano, Skanyisiwe Kanye, Author Mbano and Clara Mashayamombe hope to record their first album on mbira
music coming soon.
The trio revealed that while playing and listening to Mbira’s beat,
they are “absorbed in the spiritual world”, which makes them possess
ancestral powers “that can throw evils on the members of society.” The traditional rhythm is unique, compared to others like
Sungura as one plays using instruments that are not connected to external cables, “he added.
“We play mbira to express our feelings and those of my community using typical instruments of our own ancestry that we love.
to preserve our children as a culture, ”Mgwagwa said.
Mbira’s team is Trymore Marowa, Hope Chagama, James Chiguvare, Owen Mbano, Skanyisiwe Kanye, Autor Mbano, and Clara.
Mashayamombe is working on her first album on mbira music which will be released very soon.
It is necessary to teach mbira music at both the primary and secondary levels.
as a way of preserving our local culture, said Mgwagwa the Manager. Hears
encouraged all artists across the country not to be shy about what
they are doing it through music that uses traditional instruments.