The mbira is not only an instrument—it is the heartbeat of a people, the pulse of the Shona spirit, and the eternal song of the ancestors. Its sound has carried across centuries, rising like prayer into the night sky, weaving together the living and the departed in a communion that words alone cannot hold. To hear the mbira is to step into ceremony, to enter a sacred river of sound that washes away heaviness, awakens memory, and opens the soul to healing.
In Shona tradition, every note of the mbira is alive. It does not speak to entertain but to call, to remind, to connect. When the mbira plays, the ancestors draw near. It becomes a vessel, a channel through which guidance, strength, and wisdom flow. Its melodies remind us that life is not a straight line but a circle—unbroken, eternal—where the past, present, and future meet.
At the Horniman, this playlist is more than a collection of songs. It is an offering. It is an altar of sound laid before all who will listen with open hearts. To sit in its presence is to step into sacred time, where music becomes prayer, where memory becomes living spirit, and where every vibration of the keys calls us home to ourselves and to our people.
Among these offerings is Chinyakare, a song that speaks of continuity. It tells us: we are not alone, we are not the first, and we will not be the last. Those who first played the mbira handed it to us not as a possession but as a trust, a sacred duty. When we play Chinyakare, we carry their voices forward, keeping the flame of tradition alive so that future generations may also find light in its glow.
Another piece, Kutaura kweVakuru—“The Elders’ Teachings”—is a reminder of humility. It tells us that when the elders speak, the young must not only hear with their ears but listen with their spirits. Culture is not a matter of outward dress or empty ritual; it is the state of one’s heart. A clean heart, a humble spirit, and a listening soul are the true garments of tradition. To honor the teachings of the elders is to walk with dignity, to live with respect, and to hold within ourselves the wisdom of those who came before.
The mbira is medicine. Its sound heals the weary, comforts the grieving, and strengthens the spirit. In ceremonies, it calls forth the ancestors, inviting their presence to guide and bless the community. In times of struggle, it brings courage. In times of joy, it deepens celebration. It is the voice of the earth itself, reminding us that we are part of something larger, something sacred, something eternal.
To hear the mbira within the walls of the Horniman is to experience a sacred crossing. It is to step into a space where culture becomes spirit, where music becomes memory, and where every listener—no matter where they come from—can feel the thread that binds us all to something timeless.
May every note of this playlist awaken your spirit. May it open your heart to remembrance, heal what is wounded within you, and remind you that we walk always in the company of our ancestors. For the mbira is not just music—it is a voice, a prayer, and a path home.
Hey Jukebox
Listen to a playlist of the songs discussed in this blog on Spotify, or in the Museum on Tuesday afternoons from 2.30pm.