Mbira, the ‘thumb piano’ of Africa, losing ground in big cities

By Murat Ozgur Guvendik

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AA) - The mbira, or “thumb piano,” a traditional African instrument, is declining in popularity in big cities, a musician and seller of traditional musical instruments from Cape Town, South Africa told Anadolu.

Emphasizing that people in rural areas are much more attached to traditional music, Isaac Mungai said that outside the cities, the mbira culture is more alive.

The mbira is widely used in Southern Africa at events such as religious rituals, weddings, social gatherings and harvest ceremonies.

It is one of the leading traditional instruments in the region, notably in Zimbabwe and Malawi.

The instrument is also known around the world as the kalimba.

Generally produced in sizes that fit in the hand, mbiras consist of metal keys attached to a wooden base.

The number of keys can vary between eight and 28 depending on the region and type.

Widely used in an area stretching from the Zambezi River to the Kalahari Desert, the mbira is estimated to have a history of over 1,000 years in this region.

Mungai said that young people, especially males, play it during the rites of passage from childhood to manhood.

Stressing that mbiras are not played for commercial purposes, he noted that this traditional instrument has an important place in African culture.

*Writing by Serdar Dincel in Istanbul