Mbira Music

In Zimbabwean music, mbira music is music played on an mbira, a traditional instrument of the Shona people of Zimbabwe.

To many people Mbira music appears extremely repetitive, or cyclical. However, in most Mbira music, there are minute variations, suggestive of the minimalist movement in western music (for example Philip Glass et al.). Mbira music can be put in and classed with African Music. The Mbira is sometimes played in the background of a Djembe drumming group for important pieces

As usual in African music, rhythm plays an important part. The rhythms are often quite intricate and to some extent dictate the form of the melody.