Call for integrated approach to arts development
george charamba

Cde George Charamba

Lifestyle Editor
The Government needs an integrated approach in all sectors to ensure that the potential of the arts industry is fully realised, says the Secretary for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Cde George Charamba. Speaking during a visit to Mbira Centre in Highlands yesterday, Cde Charamba pointed out that the centre run by Albert Chimedza, is not just about mbira artistes and by supporting such initiatives the Government would ensure the arts have a great impact on the economy.

“Information is not just words but communication. And we communicate through music and other arts therefore we need a comprehensive definition in conceptualising information so that we see how we can support the arts.

“Normally we talk about promoting artists without considering how we can enable them through the tools that they use. We are happy that we have people like Bob Nyabinde, who is making guitars and the Mbira Centre promoting traditional instruments.

“On the surface mbira is all about aesthetics and music. We saw the beauty in the resonators that double as lamp shades and we heard the beauty of the music which is an important part of our natural heritage which we should not allow to slip through our fingers. But more than that, we have seen that the production of a mbira is a labour intensive process which directly creates employment for artists and artisans. In addition, the industry has an impact on the steel manufactures as well as timber and plastic producers who provide the raw materials used in making the instruments.”

The Mbira Centre makes the base of their instruments from mukwa (mubvamaropa) trees which they buy from the Forestry Commission which procures the wood from Gokwe and Lupane. The hand-painted resonators or shells that house the mbira are made from fibreglass using gourd moulds. Steel rods and thick wires are used to fashion the keys which are hand-beaten with anvils on anvils made from rail track.

Mbira Centre director Mr Chimedza says that he hopes to see mainstreaming of mbira education as part of the schools music curriculum so that young Zimbabweans grow up with their heritage.

“The world is daily becoming more globalised and you cannot avoid the influence of other places. You also cannot stop the young from being attracted to music from other countries, especially the West. But you can give them a musical backbone from which to appreciate it. That way they can interpret it with a sense of self-pride.”

Mbira Centre was started several years ago and has the capacity to make 100 mbiras a week but is producing about two units a day. In addition, the centre is a museum for mbira types from all over Zimbabwe and beyond as well as the history of the instrument. The centre works with organisations including Cheshire Homes, which has seconded people with disability to be trained as artisans in the skills of making the mbira instrument.

The mbira is a traditional African key music instrument believed to be more than a 1 000 years old and is indigenous to several countries including Zimbabwe, Uganda and Angola.

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