Music of the Shona of Zimbabwe

The most distinctive feature of Shona music is the use of the mbira, a lamellophone plucked by thumbs and forefingers (figure 1). The instrument is widespread in Africa, but the Shona have developed the largest instruments, and use them the most frequently in rituals. The mbira may have arisen as a portable version of a xylophone (Jones 1971:34 and passim), but evidence to prove this origin will probably never appear. In the late 1900s, the principal mbira was the ). The instrument is widespread in Africa, but the Shona have developed the largest instruments, and use them the most frequently in rituals. The mbira may have arisen as a portable version of a xylophone (Jones 1971:34 and passim), but evidence to prove this origin will probably never appear. In the late 1900s, the principal mbira was the ...