Mawungira eNharira devoted to showcasing authentic mbira

MAWUNGIRA eNharira leader Wilfred Tichaona Mafrika, popularly known as Nyamasvisva, says the award-winning mbira ensemble and cultural group is devoted to showcasing authentic mbira sound locally and beyond borders, although the audience is dwindling at home.

Nyamasvisva told NewsDay Life & Style that they will continue promoting and showcasing the popularity of the traditional instrument through live performances and several traditional ceremonies which serve as preservation of African identity.

“Sometimes people invite us to perform at parties and corporate events for entertainment purposes. The mbira instrument has strong spiritual aspects attached to it because it can be played to appease ancestral spirits. Songs performed along with the instrument differ according to the purpose of the event. There are some songs that summon ancestors and others for pleasure,” Nyamasvisva said.

Mawungira Enharira has toured the world taking the traditional instrument to countries like Germany, Sweden and the United States. The group also performed at the Zimbabwe Music festival and across cities in the United States where mbira was greatly appreciated compared to its reception at home.

The group has also been to China and Sweden under cultural exchange programmes.

“Foreign nationals have better appreciation of the traditional instrument compared to locals. Although people are slowly appreciating it, the audience is still small. This has also driven away promoters who then engage musicians from other genres for events to attract large crowds,” Nyamasvisva said.

He added that people had diverted from traditional music and instruments and lost knowledge of African identity in the process. Nyamasvisva said people had abandoned their own Zimbabwean music while embracing western culture.

Mawungira eNharira scooped National Arts Merit Awards Best Mbira award twice in a row in the years 2006 and 2007. Nyamasvisva appealed to arts awards organisers to recognise mbira by putting the genre in a category of its own adding that appreciation of mbira will foster the younger generation to develop a good eye for the instrument.

The group is in the process of releasing a six-track album, Bvunza Mutupo.