Mbira are a family of musical instruments, traditional to the Shona people of Zimbabwe. It is also known as a Kalimba, thumb piano, or thumb dulcitone.
They consist of a wooden board (often fitted with a resonator) with attached staggered metal tines, played by holding the instrument in the hands and plucking the tines with the thumbs (at minimum), the right forefinger (most mbira), and sometimes the left forefinger.
In Eastern and Southern Africa, there are many kinds of mbira, often accompanied by the hosho, a percussion instrument. It is often an important instrument played at religious ceremonies, weddings, and other social gatherings.
Details
- Designer: Jennifer Toombs
- Printer: Questa Colour Security Printers Ltd (House of Questa)
- Process: Lithography
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- Watermark: Cockerels (Upright)
- Perf: 14 (comb)
- Cylinders: Black, Yellow, Brown, Blue
- Sheet:
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