Zimbabwe — Music X Culture

The Shona of Zimbabwe

Shona People playing mbira and drums

Zimbabwe, a land of cultural richness and diversity, is proud of its musical heritage that runs deep through its history. Music in Zimbabwe is a reflection of its people, traditions, and the ever-evolving society.
Zimbabwean music has its roots deeply embedded in the ancient cultures and traditions of its diverse ethnic groups. These traditions have been passed down through generations, forming the foundation upon which modern Zimbabwean music is built. Indigenous instruments like the mbira, hosho, and ngoma play a significant role in the traditional music of Zimbabwe.

A woman selling crocheted tablecloths in Harare. Many enterprises in the informal sector are based on women's traditional activities.

The Mbira

The mbira, in particular, is an essential instrument in Shona music, and has spiritual and healing significance, often associated with ancestral worship and cultural gatherings. The intricate polyrhythms produced by the mbira are a hallmark of traditional Zimbabwean music. Once believed to summon the spirits of dead ancestors, the mbira was traditionally played only by men; however, in contemporary times, there are prominent female performers as well.

Although mbira is undoubtedly Zimbabwe's most iconic instrument, ngoma is the most commonly performed traditional musical instrument in Zimbabwe today, with a rich history across Southern Africa. At a basic level, ngoma simply means “drum.” At the same time, it is also commonly used to refer to specific musical styles that combine drumming, dance, and song. These drums, which share similar construction techniques, are crafted from cylindrical wooden bodies carved from whole tree trunks, and feature cow-skin heads secured firmly in place by a series of wooden pegs. To adjust the pitch of the drums, since the skin's tension isn't easily modifiable, ngoma are typically tuned before each performance by heating the drum head. They can be played using sticks, hands, or a combination of both techniques.

Dancing shona girls. By Maya Rene

Stella Chiweshe, Shona from Zimbabwe, a great Mbira player and singer

Ngoma drums vary in size and shape, ranging from tall, slender instruments played in a standing position to wide, short drums that produce resonant bass tones. They can be played individually or in pairs. Remarkably, within Zimbabwe, these drums bear a multitude of names that vary depending on the region, size, and musical genre. Here is a video of some Zimbabwe folklore drummers playing different kinds of ngomas:

CHANGE

In the 1960s and 1970s, Zimbabwe — then under colonial rule and known as Rhodesia — witnessed the birth of imbube, a captivating a cappella musical genre primarily composed of male voices. This style of singing originated from the mines in neighboring South Africa, where many Zimbabweans sought employment, and where there were no instruments to accompany the voices. These songs were composed by miners and provided entertainment and, later, contained social justice messages. To accompany the imbube singing, the men would stamp their feet in dance patterns wearing their rubber boots in what became known as gumboot dancing.

Music from Petauke of Northern Rhodesia, Vol, 1

cont.

Chimurenga is a highly popular music style among the Shona people of Zimbabwe, pioneered by Thomas Mapfumo in the 1980s. This genre is deeply rooted in the sound of the mbira. The term ‘Chimurenga’ translates to ‘liberation struggle music,’ referring to the music's pivotal role during Zimbabwe's struggle for independence from colonial rule. This music served as a powerful tool in the nation's battle for freedom and empowerment, as it was one of the only weapons they had available to fight back with. These songs often narrated the hardships endured by the people and passionately called for resistance against the colonial oppressors, giving voice to the collective spirit of defiance and hope.

However, in a country that has Christianized—over 80% of the population is now Christian—traditional music genres have become demonized. The demonization is linked closely with traditional religion, and less and less youth are interested in them. Furthermore, strong cultural influences from neighbor Nigeria and globalized culture have popularized modern Nigerian music and Western pop, hip hop, and R&B.

CONTINUITY

Two of the most popular young artists today are Jah Prayzah and Winky D. Jah Prayzah's style of music is a fusion of traditional Shona mbira with contemporary instruments, and his songs are mostly in Shona. He is a vibrant stage performer as well, with the nickname "Soja" (meaning soldier) because of his attire. Winky D falls into the reggae-dancehall music genre (known as Zim Dancehall), a music style which incorporates the Jamaican dancehall beats with primarily Shona lyrics. One of his more popular songs is Panorwadza Moyo which he did with Oliver Mtukudzi - a song of heartbreak from losing loved ones. Also a great stage performer, Winky D has earned the nickname "Big Man" for his popularity among the Zimbabwean youth as well as youngsters.

Zimbabwe jit, also known as “Harare beat,” is a vibrant music genre that combines various African influences, resulting in a pulsating rhythm reminiscent of South African township jive and Trinidadian soca, as highlighted in this article by All Around this World. Jit incorporates elements such as Tanzanian guitar, Congolese rhumba, and chimurenga mbira-guitar, creating a unique and energetic sound.

This musical style can be experienced through performances by renowned artists like the Bhundu Boys, Chazezesa Challengers and The Four Brothers, who have contributed to the popularity and development of Zimbabwe jit and its related genre, “tuku music.”

In the rock, acoustic and afro-fusion genre of music in Zimbabwe, bands and artists that have been popular are the likes of Flying Bantu, the Chain Gang, Amy & the Calamities, So Kindly, Mackay Brothers, Ryan Koriya, Mann Friday and Evicted amongst others.

These modern and up and coming artists and musicians sing of love, hope, sunshine, triumph, bravery and resilience. They are the epitome of faith in humanity and the faith the youth of today has in itself and the future, a message warmly welcomed through all walks of life anywhere in the world.

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