Forward Kwenda & Simboti: Nhemamusasa - Mbira Video Lesson
Learn how to play mbira with Forward Kwenda and Simboti : Nhemamusasa video lesson
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One video tutorial to help you learn the traditional mbira song, Nhemamusasa
Recorded in nyamaropa tuning, Simboti (right) begins with kushaura and Forward (left) follows with kutsinhira
Their Nhemamusasa note choices match best with mbira chord progression 4
🗺 Videos are followed by a ‘travel diaries’ post for extra interest/context
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🗺 Travel Diaries
On our second visit to the sculpture market at Mbare we met up with an old student of Forward’s. He said that he would record a single video of Bangidza - asking that we withhold his name for spiritual reasons. Forward and I suggested that we refer to him using his totem’s praise name, ‘Simboti’ (Leopard) to which he agreed.
Something unlocked in this hesitant gwenyambira, and over the next hour Simboti returned again and again offering up more songs and variations for me to record.
Several videos later we were relaxing outside, and he began this beautiful Nhemamusasa duet with Forward…
It was a special moment for everyone present. Beyond witnessing and participating in the music, an extra blessing came from above.
At around 4.10 in the recording, you might notice some disruption. Although the weather that day was dry, water fell from the sky and landed on just the the four of us.
As a brief aside, mbira mythology is deeply linked with water. The divine instrument emerges from lakes in some of its origin stories, its used to facilitate communication with mermaid spirits, and is also played in prayers or thanksgiving for rain.
The conversation afterwards turned to this rare phenomenon - called ‘Donhodzo’ in Shona. Forward says this very localised falling of water is very supernatural, and ‘one of the reasons could be we are in the good books with the spiritual world'.
My time with Forward certainly felt this way.
To read about more of our magical mbira journeys, please check out my other Travel Diaries posts.