Ngoma just like other Zimbabwean folk instrument is dialect oriented. Most Zimbabweans use bare hands to drum. Areas around Chiweshe plays with one hand holding the stick and the other bare. The Gandira/iNdandanda gong players use one stick and the other hands holds the drum while the middle finger is use to press and release the back side of the skin so as to alter tones.
The Korekore of further North of Zimbabwe, the Nguni playing Xigubhu, the Hera drumming for Ngororombe use sticks in both hands.
I have been to villages where they refer to the drumming sticks as Zvimuti, Zvitanda, Miyambo, Miridzo, Izigodo, Moonzyo and these are different in size and density as they play different types of drums of different shapes and sizes. The most desirable stick should be slightly curvey because straight sticks breaks the hide. Also accessibility, quality, purpose play a big role in choosing sticks.
Some woods are poisonous or may cause allergies hence sharing about some of the drumming sticks that have been used for centuries.
Some sticks are brifly scotched using fire known in Ndebele as UkuFusa or kuBvura in Shona. Traditional oil is smeared to it to make them tougher, dry, and smooth.
Musasa/Igonde
Other Names; Msasa, Mutatsa, Zebra wood
This is the most commonly used drumming stick across both Matabele and Mashonaland. The Musasa is a hard wood and the sticks from it are neither heavy nor light and most players prefer using them.
Munhondo/Umtshonkwe
Other Names; Mnondo, Munondo, Mutondo
Munhondo and Musasa are closely related trees and one can only distinguish their difference from the leaves. Most of my sticks are from Munhondo as it is slightly harder than the Musasa and it has a slightly redish inner part. I prefer Munondo when playing Dandi.
Mupangara/Ugagu
Other Names; Chinese Lantern, Munhangara, Muruka, Musekera, Sickle bush
One of the hardest woods. Ideal for playing Xigubhu/isiGubhu. The thin branches are ideal for mhito.
MuNjiri/Umhlampunzi
Other Names; Asegaai Wood, Donkey Berry, Grey Raisin, Ibusu, Mubura,, Muguramhanda, Mupimbiri, Mutewa, Mutongoro, Ngiri (Tonga), Umpumpulwane, Umtewa,
Often used for making walking sticks, fishing rods. MuNjiri is very dense and is ideal for playing Dandi. It was the wood I used mostly when growing up in Bulawayo. Still my favourite though I can’t access it in Harare.
Umtshekisani
Used for brushing teeth. Its thin branches are good for playing Gandira/INdandanda
Mufuti
Ideal for playing Mutumba and Mhito
Muunze/Umbuze
Other Names; Gizhe, Guzhe, Mountain Acacia, Redwood, Tsotso
A whitish hard wood. It had some of the best sticks for Dandi.
They are a lot more good wood for drumming sticks and I will share more in the forthcoming articles.
Here are weblinks of Zimbabweans drumming with sticks
Ngoma Music and Dance 