Sounds of the African Mbira

Another release from ARC Music, who seem to have access to a bottomless wealth of folk and roots music from every corner of the world, this album comes from Cape Town–based Tinashe Chidanyika, who plays the Zimbabwean mbira (thumb piano) used in Shona spiritual ceremonies. The songs are performed in Shona, and many of them are traditionals, with some original pieces written by Tinashe. The subjects covered range from classic dictums regarding the meaning of life to songs that encourage people to work hard and fight poverty. Tinashe has worked tirelessly to make positive links between music and social issues, and there is a social slant to many of the songs on the album; he adds new lyrics to old songs to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS, for instance. Most interesting is ‘Chemutengure, a traditional song usually performed at full–moon ceremonies and here played on the 15– key mbira. The song, interlocking rounds of repetitive rhythms and melodies, is led by an unusual and high melody, briefly touched by the textured voice of Tinashe. The song starts rather haltingly and speeds up to reach a beautiful and transfixing pace that is ultimately effortlessly soothing, like listening to water trickling down a stream.

With good if unadventurous production, this album is likely to find its way onto the shelf of a university music library or into the collection of an avid fan of Southern African music. Wildly exciting it might not be, but it is an excellent collection of classic mbira music.