Mbira

"Yes, mbira music does function as entertaining music, but its main functions are more important. First, mbira music is an essential element at rain-making ceremonies, known as mukwerera. Fifteen to twenty mbira players gather along with villagers to call to the rain-making spirits (Berliner 187). This strong need for rain is indicative of an important aspect of Shona society: they have a strong reliance on agriculture and are primarily agriculturalists. Secondly, and more important, the mbira is used at a traditional, formal, all-night ceremony known as a bira. It is at a bira where a family comes together, because of a problem afflicting a member of the family, to call upon the help of ancestors. At a bira, the mbira serves as the "link between the world of the living and the world of the spirits" (Berliner 43)."

Found it interesting how this instrument can resolve issues in communities n bring unity by people participating, have we lost this state of union in our modernized networkin forums?


Full Article_> http://www2.kenyon.edu/projects/ottenhoff/paper.htm
Vid_> http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=pNEs8ewFgo4