Mavembe/​Gandanga Dongonda Mbira made by Josephat Mandaza

Description

7 3/8″ (18.75 cm) wide board, 8 1/2″ (21.5 cm) wide key spread, 28-key mbira with bottletop buzzers and bolted construction, bright sound. The tuning known as mavembe, or gandanga, tuning is similar to Phrygian mode, pitch of the lowest note is about an A. Dongonda tunings have all but the lowest right hand key (single row) an octave lower than usual.b The one in stock has black bottletops.

Note: Photo is typical of this maker and tuning, however each mbira is individually handmade and may look slightly different.