Teaching Zimbabwean Children Mbira

Zimbabwean schoolchildren learning with donated mbiras
Zimbabwean schoolchildren learning with donated mbiras

MBIRA has sponsored mbira instruments for several Zimbabwean schools, to encourage transmission of traditional music to the next generation, and pays a monthly salary to 5 mbira players who are teaching mbira at some of these schools. Due to the drastic economic situation in Zimbabwe, musicians are no longer able to do this on a volunteer basis. Thanks for helping us make mbira education available in Zimbabwean schools – 100% of your tax-deductible donation to the Teach Zimbabwean Schoolchildren Mbira Fund will be used to pay these teachers, and buy mbiras/pay teachers for more schools if we receive enough donations.

Chidiya School students with teacher "Samaita" Vitalis Botsa
Chidiya School students with teacher “Samaita” Vitalis Botsa in 2017

So far, sets of instruments have been sponsored for 2 primary schools in the Nyamweda area of Mhondoro Communal Area, Chinhoyi High School #2 in the town of Chinhoyi, St. Bede’s Primary School in Dewedzo (near Mujuru Village), Chidiya Primary School in Murehwa Communal Area, Chizungu Primary School in Epworth (Harare), Roosevelt Girls High School in Harare, and a set for the children who live at a sacred shrine in Chiweshe Communal Area.

Enjoy the photos and video, to see what your donations are doing in Zimbabwe. We’ll have new 2024 photos and videos up soon!

 

St. Bede’s Primary School Mbira Students in 2014

MBIRA Musicians Fund donations also support the transmission of traditional music to future generations of Zimbabweans.

Patience Chaitezvi with her Chinhoyi High School #2 Mbira Students, and mbiras donated by MBIRA, in 2010
Patience Chaitezvi with her Chinhoyi High School #2 Mbira Students, and mbiras donated by MBIRA, in 2010
Caution Shonhai & his students
Caution Shonhai & his primary school students