Mbira and its Musical Cousins: Kalimba, Likembe, Ubo and MoreBy Kosiso NwachukwuWed Jul 17 2024Photo courtesy of CanvaMbira is a traditional musical instrument with roots among the Shona people of Zimbabwe and similar variants across various African cultures.Share to:
Kundung: Xylophone of the Berom PeopleBy | 4/7/2025 | InstrumentThe Kundung story begins with an unexpected cultural exchange. In the 1930s, migrant workers from Chad arrived in Jos, Nigeria, for tin mining operations following World War II.
Chimurenga: The Zimbabwean music of rebellionBy | 6/8/2023 | GenresOne significant aspect of chimurenga music was its fusion of traditional African music with Western influences, resulting in a distinctive and impactful sound that appealed to audiences in Zimbabwe and worldwide.
Kakaki, the Traditional Metal Trumpet from West AfricaBy | 9/6/2023 | InstrumentThe kakaki can be a standalone musical instrument or part of a larger musical ensemble. When it is used in the latter, kakaki is played alongside drums, Farai, and other traditional instruments.
AML Instrument Spotlight: The AlgaitaBy | 12/9/2024 | InstrumentThe Algaita, a West African aerophone, is a cultural symbol used in ceremonies and music groups. This African musical instrument is much more than the sounds it produce...read more about its social and cultural significance.
African Drums: A Diverse Percussion InstrumentBy | 9/19/2023 | InstrumentAfrican drums have different purposes...are of different forms, shapes, and make. These African instruments have found their way to other cultures and continents, finding expressions in entertainment and music formation.