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Music is huge part of a Shona funeral and people sing Jiti, Wisiri, Vapositori, and contemporary songs during the course of the funeral. In Harare suburbs that include Mbare, Mufakosi and Mabvuku people of Malawian descent also have a similar culture of drumming, singing and dancing during funerals. There are some practices like the ancientContinue reading “Drumming at a Funeral part 1”

The Mbira types I have been mastering since 1995.. Top row, From left to right: 1)Nhare Mavembe/Gandanga Tuning 2)Hera of the Korekore Tavara 3)Shawasha Karimba 4) 34 key Njari of the Korekore from Magunje 5) Nyonganyonga/Malimba of the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, Central Mozambique and Southern Malawi 6) Nhare Nyamaropa tuning Middle row, From LeftContinue reading “Types of Mbiras that I have been mastering since 1995”

Bulawayo Township Rhythms & Songs, 1995 to 2010 Article 2 Chapter 1 Introduction to Ngoma/iNgungu Basic Strokes Most of the 4/4 or 2/4 Township Rhythms are played using the hand-to-hand sticking (RL RL RL RL or LR LR LR LR). The primary strokes are Tap Strokes and the accents can vary from Tone, Bass, Muffle,Continue reading “Zimbabwean Ngoma Rhythms and songs book 1”

Bulawayo Township Rhythms & Songs, 1995 to 2010 Article 1 Backdrop Before 2005, very few people in the townships, or ‘high-density’ suburbs, ofBulawayo had television or radio sets. Families like my own used to sing and in the absence of drums, would play on boxes and buckets to entertain themselves. The few families who ownedContinue reading “Zimbabwean Ngoma Rhythms and songs book 1”

REST IN PEACE THE QUEEN OF #MATEPE This morning (9 July 2021) we lost one of ours –Sinati Nyamande has passed on. She was around 94- 97years old. She is the best Mbira Vocalist that I have ever listened to. The one who yodelled like a flute and Clapped rhythms that were from celestial spaces.Continue reading “Rest in Peace Mbuya Sinati Kadende/Nyamande”

Amahlwayi, Magavhu and Magagada Buzzing, rattling and shaking are important elements of traditional Zimbabwean music making. Some ethnics have a shakers player and some may attach the shaker or buzzer to their instrument or may tie them on their legs, hands or body while dancing or playing and instrument. The above mentioned accessories are legContinue reading “Leg Rattles”

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 releaseContinue reading “Zimbabwean Drumming sticks Miyambo/Miridzo/Izigodo/Moonzyo Part 1”

Meeting Mr Majeza On the 21st of January 2020 I got a call from one of Zimbabwe’s traditional Dance custodian Sekuru Majeza to meet and discuss. I met him close to the national railways station Harare and he told me of how he had heard stories about me and wanted us to work together. WeContinue reading “From Shangara to Mbakumba”

Zimbabwe has a lot of different types of Ngoma Drums and the difference can be in shape, size, material used for construction… What is Ngoma?Ngoma is a Bantu drum made from a hallow wood log and an animal hide stretched on the playing surface and held by either wooden Pegs (hoko in Shona) or straps madeContinue reading “Types of Ngoma in Zimbabwe Part 1”

Thank you for joining me and looking forward to a great journey of exploring and sharing about Zimbabwean Music and Dance Culture. Othnell Mangoma Moyo