Shona music

Shona music is the music of the Shona language speaking people of Zimbabwe. Shona music is best known as representative of Mbira music ("thumb piano"). The performer of the mbira acts also as the lead vocalist, selecting a known melody or mbira pattern to accompany selected lyrics, usually a phrase or a few lines of text which are then commented upon improvisationally. The mbira player is accompanied by another less active singer who plays the hosho (a rattle) and responds to the improvised lyrics of the singer and most importantly embellishes and fills-in the lead vocal melody. (Garfias 1971)

Recordings

• Nonesuch Explorer Series 79703–2, Zimbabwe: The African Mbira: Music of the Shona People (2002). Liner notes by Robert Garfias (1971).