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Mbira travels

Matamai

We learned Mbirimo from Matamai. This is a Kore Kore song. The Kore Kore are part of the Shona tribe. Mbirimo is about rich people, rich people who look down on others. I will add the meaning of the words and meaning later.

The rhythm particularly of the kutsinhira is very tricky.

Matamai is what we call Newton Gwara. He is known internationally.  See the photo below of Kaia Wong, Matamai, and Denver playing late at night.

kaia-matamai-denver

I was able to buy an mbira made by Matamai while in Zimbabwe.  It is a donganda which means that the right hand is in the same range as the left hand.  When you play a song particularly one that alternates right and left hands, the sound is one of playing both kushaura and kutsinhira.

matamai-donganda-mbira

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