Mbira Piece Intensives

Kariga mombe ("Undefeatable", literally "One who can knock cattle to the ground") is traditionally the first piece a Shona mbira student learns from the over 1,000-year old repertoire played in ceremonies. This second collection of recordings of this piece in nyamaropa tuning (the first is CD 3900) features many tracks with hosho (gourd rattles), and a wide variety of different vocals, as well as widely varying mbira styles. For mavembe (also known as gandanga) tuning versions of the piece, listen to CD 3923. Tuning: Nyamaropa. [Total time: 77:05]

Solo, duet and group performances. Kariga mombe ('Undefeatable', literally, 'One who can knock cattle to the ground') is traditionally the first piece a Shona mbira student learns from the over 1,000- year old repertoire played in ceremonies. Tuning: Nyamaropa. [Total time: 75:48]

Kuzanga is a piece from the over 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. One meaning of the song is 'to live happily and free from fear.' Some of the lyrics refer to the scene when a bride is brought to the groom's village for the first time. Tuning: Nyamaropa. [Total time: 78:15]

Nhema musasa is a piece from the over 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies -- perhaps the most popular mbira song in Zimbabwe! The title means 'building a temporary shelter.' Enjoy these excerpts from new 2003 recordings made in Zimbabwe. Tuning: Nyamaropa. [Total time: 79:46]

Nyama musango ('Meat in the forest') is a piece from the over 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. One translation of the lyrics 'Chinzvenga mutsvairo' ('One who dodges the broom') is 'Don't sit around where women are sweeping, go out and make something of your life...if you want something, go get it, don't wait for it to come to you.' Tuning: Nyamaropa. [Total time: 76:14]

Nyamaropa is one of the oldest pieces of the over 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies - a deep and beautiful song. One interpretation of the title (literally 'meat and blood') is that it refers to the most ancient human ancestors, who ate raw meat and offered raw meat and millet beer to their ancestors by placing them under a tree. Tuning: Nyamaropa. [Total time: 79:23]

Taireva ('We used to tell you') is a piece from the over 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. The meaning of the song implies that good advice was not followed, and now the unfortunate results are being seen. Tuning: Nyamaropa. [Total time: 79:36]

Dande is a piece from the 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. The title refers to an area in the far north of Zimbabwe, renowned as a source of salt, and as the birthplace of the spirit Nehanda. Tuning: Nyamaropa. [Total time: 76:32]

Mahororo is a piece from the over 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. Meanings of the title include 'Freedom following victorious struggle', 'Baboons' voices', and 'The place where baboons play'. Tuning: nyamaropa. [Total time: 79:56]

Shumba is a piece from the over 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. While shumba literally means 'lion', the piece also refers to the ancient tribal guardian spirits known as mhondoro, which sometimes reside in lions. Tuning: Nyamaropa. [Total time: 79:01]

Muka tiende, also known as Bukatiende and Mukai tiende, is an ancient Shona mbira piece played in ceremonies. The name means 'Wake up, let's go!' This piece is often played in the hours before dawn at an all-night ceremony, to encourage the participants to stay awake, and to bring the spirits one more time before the ceremony ends. Tuning: Nyamaropa. [Total time: 79:32]

Chipindura is a piece from the over 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. The meaning of the song refers to change, and advocating for change, in a variety of contexts. It may be used to change the mood at a bira (spirit possession) ceremony. Tuning: Nyamaropa.

Shumba yaNgwasha, or Shumba yemukuwasha, is a piece from the over 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played at ceremonies. The meaning of the song refers to a son-in-law or brother-in-law who works very hard. Tuning: Nyamaropa. [Total time: 66:53]

Muzoriwa, also known as Chigamba, is an ancient Shona mbira piece played in ceremonies. The name Muzoriwa implies "When accused, a person should be considered innocent until proven guilty." The piece is sometimes called Chigamba ("Patch", as in patched clothing), because of the typical lyrics "Chigamba chinoda wakura", literally "A patch wants an old person". This teaches that patched clothing is for the elderly, not for the able-bodied who should work hard and provide for themselves. Tuning: nyamaropa. [Total time: 75:03]

Bangidza is a piece from the 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. The title means 'show, indicate, point out'. [Total time: 79:41]

Nhema musasa yepasi is a piece from the 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. Nhema musasa means 'cutting (branches to build a) temporary shelter'. Nhema musasa yepasi is described as a more relaxed version of the piece to be played when the spirit comes to the ceremony, to calm the spirit. However, it is quite different from the piece Nhema musasa. [Total time: 79:49]

Mbavarira is a piece from the over 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. Mbavarira means ‘determination’, and the piece is played in many tunings. Most of this collection is in mavembe, also known as gandanga, tuning. However, track 10 is in nyamaropa tuning, and track 4 in nemakonde tuning. [Total time: 79:45]

Marenje is a piece from the 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. Meanings of marenje include 'a ceremony to pray for rain' and 'wilderness' (a place where ancient spirits may be found). Tuning: gandanga/mavembe. [Total time: 78:55]

Ngozi yemuroora ('the revengeful spirit of the daughter-in-law') is a piece from the over 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. In traditional Shona culture, a woman goes to her husband's village to live forever, after marriage, and must obey her mother-in-law. The name of this song refers to a wife who is treated so badly by her mother-in-law that she dies and then comes back as a revengeful spirit seeking justice. Though this name for the piece is used by the Chigamba family, it is called other names by other musicians. Tuning: Gandanga/Mavembe. [Total time: 74:34]

Tadzungaira (”We’re confused and suffering”) is a traditional Shona mbira piece played in ceremonies, praying to the ancestors for an end to suffering. The song is also commonly called Todzungaira, Ndodzungaira, Muroro, Vamuroro, Hondo, and Nehondo. This collection features performances of the piece in nyamaropa tuning, though track 4 is in nyamaropa dongonda tuning. Tuning: nyamaropa. [Total time: 79:52]

Bembero is an ancient Shona mbira piece played in ceremonies. The name, translated as' Happiness of celebration', is derived from the verb kupembera 'to dance with joy, exult, rejoice'. Tuning: Gandanga/Mavembe. [Total time: 79:27]

Nyamaropa chipembere is a piece from the over 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. One of the most ancient and respected mbira pieces, it is also called by some Nhimura, Nyamaropa, or Nyamaropa huru. 12 tracks. Tuning: nyamaropa. [Total time: 79:48]

This Mbira Piece Intensive presents Kariga mombe in gandanga, also known as mavembe, tuning. This 2005 update includes 3 new tracks. Tuning: Gandanga/Mavembe. [Total time: 66:48]

Nhema musasa (”Chop [branches to make] a temporary shelter”) is a traditional Shona song played in ceremonies and at other occasions. This collection includes perfomances of the piece in mavembe, also known as gandanga, tuning. Enjoy listening to the complex and diverse styles of the piece! Tuning: Mavembe/Gandanga. [Total time: 79:59]

Muka tiende, also known as Bukatiende and Mukai tiende, is an ancient Shona mbira piece played in ceremonies. The name means 'Wake up, let's go!' This piece is often played in the hours before dawn at an all-night ceremony, to encourage the participants to stay awake, and to bring the spirits one more time before the ceremony ends. This collection includes versions played in mavembe, also known as gandanga, tuning. Tuning: Gandanga/Mavembe. [Total time: 78:42]

Mutamba ('Wild Orange Tree' - Strychnos spinosa) is a piece from the over 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. It is believed that, in ancient times, when a starving person prayed to the ancestors at this tree, food and water would miraculously appear. [Total time: 79:52]

This collection includes gandanga/mavembe, nemakonde, nyuchi samsengere, and saungweme tunings. See Mutamba Vol. 1 (MBI 3926) for nyamaropa tuning versions. [Total time: 76:21]

Nyama musango ('Meat in the forest') is a piece from the over 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. One translation of the lyrics 'Chinzvenga mutsvairo' ('One who dodges the broom') is 'Don't sit around where women are sweeping, go out and make something of your life...if you want something, go get it, don't wait for it to come to you.' This collection includes variants of mavembe, also known as gandanga, tuning only. MBIRA CD 3903 includes nyamaropa tuning versions of the piece. Tuning: Gandanga/Mavembe. [Total time: 75:57]

Taireva ye kare is a piece from the over 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. The title means 'the version of 'We used to tell you' from long ago'. The piece is called by various other names, including Taireva yepasi, Taireva Gorekore, Gorekore, Kusuva musha, Mutegamutega, and Taireva yaasiya mwana kumakura. Various tunings. [Total time: 72:29]

Chandasarira (”Don’t leave me behind”), also called Chawasarira, is a traditional Shona mbira piece played in ceremonies. This collection includes 12 perfomances of the piece in nyamaropa tuning. Tuning: nyamaropa. [Total time: 78:07]

Nyamaropa yevaNhowe is a piece from the over 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. Nyamaropa yevaNhowe means "Nyamaropa (one of the most ancient mbira pieces, which has many versions) of the Nhowe clan." An alternate version of the name, Pamusoro peNhowe, means "On top of Nhowe", a hill in the area where the Nhowe clan live. The piece is primarily played in Dambatsoko tuning, the tuning played by the Mujuru family and their associates. Tuning: Dambatsoko. [Total time: 77:11]

Chakwi is a piece from the over 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. Chakwi, Chaakwi, or Machakwi, is variously translated as a marsh or marshy area, the sound of walking in a marsh, or a duck. Tuning: nyamaropa, Dambatsoko. [Total time: 78:19]

Chipembere ('Rhinoceros') is a piece from the 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. This album includes the version played on gandanga/mavembe tuning only. Tuning: Gandanga/Mavembe. [Total time: 79:44]

Baya wabaya (lit. 'Stab after stab') is a very important song in traditional Shona culture: it is required during kurova guva, the ceremony held about one year after a person's death to bring his/her spirit back to the family and community. Historically, it was also used to encourage fighters, and still has that encouraging role today at soccer games. The song's function at kurova guva is similar, encouraging the spirit to have the great strength required to return to participation in the world. 13 tracks. Tuning: nyamaropa, Dambatsoko. [Total time: 79:44]

Nyuchi (”Bees”) is a traditional Shona song played in ceremonies and at other occasions. This collection includes perfomances of the piece in nyamaropa (track 3), mavembe/gandanga (tracks 1,2.7,8,9,10,11), nemakonde (track 5), and muchenje dongonda (track 4) tunings. Tute Chigamba tells a story, “Long ago, there was a man who was traveling to a place where he was afraid he could be attacked. He took a mukombe (gourd ladle) and filled it with bees, stuffing cloth in the opening to keep them inside. As he traveled, he was actually attacked. He released the bees, and his attackers ran away while being stung!” [Total time: 79:45]

Shumba yatubwete ('the non-violent lion') is a piece from the 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. In traditional Shona culture, a lion which behaves in a peaceful, helpful way is one which houses a powerful tribal guardian spirit, a mhondoro. [Total time: 66:15]

Shumba is a piece from the over 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. Shumba literally means 'lion', and also refers to the ancient tribal guardian spirits known as mhondoro, which sometimes reside in lions. This collection includes mavembe (aka gandanga), katsanzaira, and other related tunings (nyamaropa tuning is presented in Vol. 1). [Total time: 79:32]

Vasina katura is a piece from the over 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. the title means 'the ones who don't have a granary', i.e. the ones who have no food. Tuning: gandanga/mavembe. [Total time: 58:58]

Shanje ('Jealousy'), also known as Chandidi ('The one I love') and Tsikidzi nedovi ('Tsetse fly with peanut butter'), is a traditional Shona mbira piece about jealousy between wives in a polygamous family, and is used to call female spirits. The lyrics popular in modern times (included in the CD notes) are those of the late Thomas 'Sekuru Gora' Wadharwa, an mbira player who was extremely popular for singing hilarious lyrics with a straight face. 12 versions of the piece, in 4 tunings, are included. [Total time: 68:43]

Dangurangu is a piece from the 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. A wide variety of meanings are ascribed to the name of this piece, including "a song to celebrate a real chief chosen by the spirits," "a big goal to save and pray for, little by little," and "telling someone something, but he can't understand and keeps arguing." This collection includes 13 tracks in nyamaropa, gandanga/mavembe, katsanzaira, and other tunings, ranging from 1962 to 2009. [Total time: 79:28]

Dande is a piece from the over 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. The name refers to an area in the far northern part of Zimbabwe, renowned for its powerful spirits. This is a collection of recordings of Dande played in mavembe, also known as gandanga, tuning. Tuning: mavembe/gandanga. [Total time: 79:55]

Imbwa Yangu Machena is a traditional Shona song used to call "mashave ekuvhima", hunting spirits that help one to get what one needs in life. The song title literally means My Dog "White Dog", although some say it refers to a white hunting dog, and others say it refers to a black and white spotted hunting dog. Tracks 1 and 2 are village singing groups; track 4 is njari (another type of Shona mbira) and singers; and all other tracks are mbira, with and without singing. Because Imbwa Yangu Machena is a vocal song, each mbira player arranges it on the instrument quite differently. May you find all you need in life! [Total time: 73:21]

Masangano (”Crossroads”) is a traditional Shona song that is widely played by the Mujuru family and their friends, in ceremonies and at other occasions. In 1998, when recording track 1, Fradreck Mujuru said “I dreamed a black rain cloud coming to earth, then it turned into my grandfather Muchatera, telling me to play Masangano...it has been my favorite song ever since.” Tuning: Dambatsoko and nyamaropa. [Total time: 79:41]

Nyamaropa yavana vaMushonga (”The version of Nyamaropa played by Mushonga’s children”) is one of the many variants of the ancient mbira piece Nyamaropa that are played in ceremonies by the large extended Mujuru family of mbira players and their associates. This piece was indroduced to international audiences by the solo performance of Muchatera Mujuru on the 1970’s album The Soul of Mbira. This collection includes 11 perfomances of the piece in Dambatsoko tuning, but it may also be played in nyamaropa tuning. Tuning: Dambatsoko. [Total time: 79:53]

Chaminuka, also called ‘Chaminuka We’ and ‘Rwakaenda Namambo’, is a traditional Shona mbira piece played in ceremonies. Chaminuka is the name of a very important gombwe (great spirit, guardian of all the people) in Shona culture. This collection includes perfomances of the piece in nyamaropa (tracks 1,2,7,8) and Dambatsoko (tracks 3,4,5,6,9) tunings. Tuning: nyamaropa, Dambatsoko. [Total time: 68:21]

Chigwaya is a piece from the over 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. It is specifically played in shave ceremonies to call njuzu (mermaid) spirits, believed to bring health, wealth, and powers of prophecy. Those with njuzu spirits are often herbalists. Chigwaya literally means bream, a type of fish, but symbolizes the mermaid. The song repeats “It plays in its river”, implying joy and delight in a time of plenty. This collection includes recordings from 1976 to 2014. [Total time: 72:28]

Nyatwa means ‘Trouble’, ‘Danger’, or ‘Misfortune’. The Chigamba family called it ‘Pfumvu yemhembwe’ (’Troubles of / danger to a duiker/small antelope’) in the 1980’s and early 1990’s, then ‘Pfumvu yenyasa’, later calling it Nyatwa. This collection includes perfomances of the piece in mavembe/gandanga tuning. Tuning: Gandanga/Mavembe. [Total time: 75:55]

Ndomutenda mambo ("I thank you, great spirit"), is Tute Chigamba's gorgeous variant of the traditional mbira piece Mbavarira. This collection includes 11 performances of the piece - solos, duets and groups – in mavembe/gandanga tuning. Tuning: Gandanga/Mavembe. [Total time: 76:43]