The mbira is one of the iconic instruments of Africa traditional music. Identified particularly with Zimbabwe its resonant metal keys form the basis of much of the country's popular music, with the sound transposed to the electric guitar. In Shona culture, mbira (the term for both the instrument and the music) holds an important role in spiritual and ritual purposes, but it can also be played outside of the ceremonial context. Musician, healer and spirit medium Ambuya Nyati states: "the mbira is our way to pray to God...it's our telephone to the ancestors." 55-year old Ambuya Nyati began playing mbira at the age of 8 and achieved popularity playing in Zimbabwe. She has been invited to perform in Europe three times, most recently earlier this year. These recordings were made in the studios of Radio France in July 2012. All tracks were freely chosen by the musicians, and the one-take recordings were necessarily played in abbreviated versions - in ritual contaxt the pieces can exceed 30 minutes in length. The accustomed exemplary standards of recording and packaging from Ocora Radio France, including a detailed 32-page booklet, make this 78-minute CD an essential purchase for serious fans of Zimbabwean and African music.

The mbira is one of the iconic instruments of Africa traditional music. Identified particularly with Zimbabwe its resonant metal keys form the basis of much of the country's popular music, with the sound transposed to the electric guitar. In Shona culture, mbira (the term for both the instrument and the music) holds an important role in spiritual and ritual purposes, but it can also be played outside of the ceremonial context. Musician, healer and spirit medium Ambuya Nyati states: "the mbira is our way to pray to God...it's our telephone to the ancestors." 55-year old Ambuya Nyati began playing mbira at the age of 8 and achieved popularity playing in Zimbabwe. She has been invited to perform in Europe three times, most recently earlier this year. These recordings were made in the studios of Radio France in July 2012. All tracks were freely chosen by the musicians, and the one-take recordings were necessarily played in abbreviated versions - in ritual contaxt the pieces can exceed 30 minutes in length. The accustomed exemplary standards of recording and packaging from Ocora Radio France, including a detailed 32-page booklet, make this 78-minute CD an essential purchase for serious fans of Zimbabwean and African music.