Shona Music and Dance

1. Shona Music and Dance Mbira Music of Zimbabwe

2. Zimbabwe • Was British colonial “Rhodesia” until 1980 • War of independence from Britain: 1966-1979 • Although English is official language, most speak Shona (Bantu language)

4. Spiritual Beliefs • Strong belief in presence of ancestors and their spirits • Many different types of spirits, including family members, chiefs, non-relatives and animals • Believe that evil spirits (“witches”) also exist

5. The Bira • Bira = all-night, family-based ceremony with singing, dancing, and libations • Considered primary means of communication with the spirit world • Main instrument used: mbiras

6. The Mbira • Set of long metal keys • Soundboard with bridge to hold keys in place • Resonator to amplify sound • Jingles of various material made to buzz

7. Player and Instrument • Mbira can be intimate instrument • Instrument faces player • Instrument produces melody, rhythm, overtones, “white noise” • “The mbira’s sound surrounds the player”

8. Mbira Music • Short repeated phrases with small variations • Emphasis not on dazzling improvisation but on the gradual development of a “piece” • Usually 4 sections of 12 beats • Songs structured on two “parts” – leader (basic melody) and follower (variations)

9. Principle of Interlock • Playing technique (alternation of fingers) • “Leader” and “Follower” parts • Polyrhythms generated by 3:2 feel • Polyphony generated by multiple melodic “layers” • Singing, instrument and hosho shakers play in interlock – none is the “soloist”

10. Song: “Nhemumasasa” • Each melodic phrase = 3 x 4 note unit = 12 pulses • One time through entire musical unit = 3x4 3x4 3x4 3x4