Tichazomuona

This is a very welcome reissue in vinyl and digital download formats of a wonderful album of Zimbabwean mbira (thumb piano) music. Dumisani Maraire was an innovator of the modern mbira style. In the late 1960s he travelled to the US where his work as an educator helped to generate a revival of interest in the instrument and in Shona culture. During the colonial period in then Rhodesia traditional music had been censored and the playing of mbira had been frowned upon with Christian missionaries suggesting that it was connected to evil spirits.

On this LP, Dumisani Maraire plays the 15-note nyunganyunga mbira accompanied by hosho (gourd shaker) played by his wife Mai Chi. Together they generate an incredibly full sound considering the minimal instrumentation. The pair both sing on all except one instrumental track and on the remarkable title-song they are joined vocally by ten-year-old daughter Chiwoniso whose spectacular voice will pin you to the back of your chair. This was Chiwoniso’s recording debut and she went on to have her own successful career as an mbira player and vocalist performing traditional and modern fusion styles. A marvellous and historically significant album worthy of reissue.