Shona Mbira ca. 1980s

This type of Zimbabwean lamellophone and tuning style is called mbira dzavadzimu, meaning “mbira of the ancestral spirits.” The mbira dzavadzimu instrument form was popularized after the 1920s, supplanting the mbira matepe style. This example does not have resonators. The bolts on the back indicate that this piece is ca. 1980s. The stamped numbers on the back were likely already on the wood prior to the instrument’s carving.

8″ W

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