Sekuru’s stories extend far beyond his primary instruments, the mbira dzavadzimu. From his own original compositions for acoustic guitar to his first-hand experience with other types of mbira such as the matepe, Sekuru’s oral narratives offer an excellent introduction to a wide range of Zimbabwean instruments. This section of Sekuru’s Stories offers an in-depth look at several of the instruments mentioned in his stories, bringing additional audio recordings, musical transcriptions, and photographs alongside his oral narratives.
Among the diverse instrument that he plays, Sekuru’s engagement with musical bows is particularly important. Over the course of his life, Sekuru Chigamba has played three different musical bows: the mouth-resonated chipendani and mukube, and the kambuya-mbuya groundbow. Together, his stories, original compositions, and performances of traditional songs on these musical bows offer detailed insight into what is widely considered one of Zimbabwe’s disappearing musical traditions.
Sekuru’s Chigamba’s stories likewise foreground the importance of Zimbabwe’s drumming, dance, and song traditions, commonly known as ngoma. Through several generations, his family has been deeply involved in performing a variety of ngoma genres, from his father’s excellence as a mangwingwindo performer at spirit possession ceremonies in Guruve to his children’s leading roles in groups such as the National Dance Company of Zimbabwe, the Young Zimbabweans, and Mhembero. Through his stories about these drumming, dance, and song traditions, Sekuru Chigamba calls attention to what are among Zimbabwe’s most prevalent, yet least recognized musical styles.
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