Marimbas

Marimbas are wooden-keyed, xylophone-like instruments that are played by striking the keys with mallets. For performances, individual resonators hang beneath each wooden note to amplify the sound. Click on the notes below to here the bass marimba:

Mbira

The mbira is the Shona peoples' traditional instrument. It is a set of 22 - 28 carefully shaped and sized metal keys that are mounted on a rectangular, wooden sound board and are plucked with the fingers. Often, two mbiras are played together to create interlocking melodies and rhythms. One musician plays a kushaura part, while the second musician plays a kutsinhira part. Click Here to play the Mbira.

Deze

The mbira is mounted inside a large, dried, hollowed gourd that looks like a bowl. This resonating chamber is called deze. Bottle caps or snail shells are attached to the mouth of the deze to create a characteristic buzzing

Hosho

Hosho are shakers made from the dried shells of Zimbabwean wild fruits. Easy to play, yet difficult to master, hosho are filled with hota seeds, stones, pebbles, or other types of seeds. Hosho are played in pairs, one in each hand, and often accompany mbira music.

Ngoma, Djembe and Djun-djuns

These drums from southern and West Africa are taught as accompaniment to marimba, mbira and in ensemble by themselves. Ngoma, from Zimbabwe, are played with hands and accompany marimba and mbira music. Djembes, from West Africa, are played with hands and djun-djuns, also from West Africa, are played with sticks. Djembes and djun-djuns are played together in an ensemble setting with bell accompaniment.