History of Music in Zimbabwe

The music of Zimbabwe comprises of the following, pop patterns and the traditional, much, it based on the popular instruments known as the mbira which is also renowned in many other African countries. An annual Zimbabwe Music Festival which is held in every year in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Peoples from throughout the world attend this festival and share the experiment of Zimbabwean music and culture. Famous genres in Zimbabwe include the local Chimurenga and foreign rumba, rock and roll and the soukous.

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The mbira frequently known as a thumb piano is an essential part of the Zimbabwean music. This is played while in a halved calabash which amplified the tune and distorts it using shells or bottle caps placed within the edges. However musicologist, Hugh Tracey assumed that mbira has been in extinction in the near 30s, the instrument has been renewed since the 60s and 70s, and has attained an international support through the world music scene. Some of the popular mbira players include the following such as Tute Chigamba, Wilfred MaAfrica, Albert Chimedza, Hope Ruvimbo Masike, Hector Rufaro Mugani, Dumisani Maraire, Ephat Mujuru, Forward Kwenda, Stella Chiweshe, Chartwell Dutiro, Beauler Dyoko, Cosmas Magaya, Musekiwa Chingodza, Hakurotwi Mude, Chiwoniso Maraire, and Tendai Gahamadze. Mbira DzeNari is an mbira genre renowned along the eastern territory of Zimbabwe. The mbira instrument that has 32 keys, far more difficult than other forms of mbira instruments, much is not known about this kind of mbira. Foreign scholars from the University of Washington recorded some of the music during the Zimbabwe freedom war in Zimunya communal lands from popular artists in the region like Chiwanza and Nyika Musabayana Zimunya. The latter recorded one recognized single at Grama Records, known as Adzimai garaimwandichema. Other dominating mbira orchestras include the following such as the Maungira Enharira, MbiralDzenharira and Mbira Dzechirorodziva. This is also important to state that is almost impossible to talk about the mbira music without recognizing Thomas Mapfumo (also known as Mukanya), who music includes a combination of mbira and current instruments.

There is also pop music in Zimbabwe that joins their local instruments. Though the mbira is generally played as ceremonial music to call spirits, there are also many who play it in the world-combination music and get popular radio play and album sales in Zimbabwe and other countries in Africa. For instance, mbira player such as Chris Berry with his ensemble Panjea have reached the platinum record sales in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, playing a pattern of music which is based on the folk mbira beats and songs, but joining different other instruments and patterns such as dancehall and hip hop.

Zimbabwean artists’ word extremely contain inspiration of upholding good social values in the family and society as whole, such words can be found in chants by musicians such as Simon Chimbetu, Oliver Mtukudzi, Louis Mhlanga, Steve Makoni, John Chibadura and Bhudu Boys and many others. Also so Thomas Mapfumo, whose words are primarily political and inspired good leadership and rising against bad Governance, most of his albums are called after a word referring Uprising of War of Liberation, Chimurenga. His music has earned him the wrath of the ZANU-PF government which result the limiting of most of his music on state owned radio and TV. Another popular artist with striking words is the late System Tazvida of the Chazezesa Challengers. His words were primarily centered on the subject of Love and this gave him popularity with chants such as Ukarambwa Usachema, Vanotipedzera Mashoko, Anodyiwa Haature and Dai Hanzvadzi Yairoorwa. With the advent of Urban Grooves the words content look like that of American R&B, hip hop and Pop music which the younger generation listen to. Maskiri is one of the artists that are known for imitating Eminem’s pattern of controversial words.