A gift to see and hear: Ambuya Chiweshe and her Mbira

"When I first listened to the mbira sound, I wanted to hear more and more. I could not stop it, I was sick until I learned to play, so I could hear these sounds." -Stella Chiweshe-

The Mbira is played for the Ancestors, to create healing, to arouse and balance the energy of the healer, and as a meditation for the mind. Ambuya Chiweshe is the first woman to play the Mbira. Ambuya has found life in integrating mbira, marimba, dance, song and story telling, weaving them to produce a healing recipe that has nourished her audiences around the world for many years.

Stella Rambisai Chiweshe
The Mbira Queen of Zimbabwe
Her Majesty - The Queen of Mbira Music from Zimbabwe - like Stella Rambisai Chiweshe is often called, is the first female artist who gained in prestige and has been honored with recognition in a music tradition that's been dominated by men: in Mbira music - known as the backbone of Zimbabwean music.

She is one of the few musicians in Zimbabwe and Southern Africa, who since more than 35 years is working in the role of traditional Mbira musician. When Zimbabwe was still a Rhodesian colony, Stella secretly was recognized as a Mbira player at forbidden ceremonies. Before independence Mbira instruments had to be kept hidden, because the colonial government had banned the instrument fearing its magical powers. Playing Mbira was punished with prison. After playing through the whole night at forbidden reunions, Stella then returned to her every-day-struggle of survival as a young girl within a colonial environment.

Stella Rambisai Chiweshe is nicknamed "Ambuya Chinyakare" (Grandmother of Traditional Music). She is a well respected and important woman in the music business too, where bands perform in night clubs and festivals. She set an example for the rest of the women musicians in Zimbabwe.
She is a professional artist in the entertainment industry and in the international music circuit. In Zimbabwe before independence she released more than 20 singles of Mbira music of which her first single Kasahwa went gold in 1975.

After Independence she was invited to become a member of the original National Dance Company of Zimbabwe, where she soon took the part of a leading Mbira solo player, dancer and actress. Her work will always be remembered.

Before independence the Mbira was kept hidden because of its magical powers. For over 1000 years, Mbira players have used the instrument to call in and allow the Ancestors to speak and bring their teachings and healing. Considered by many to be a form of therapy or medicine, the Mbira is a vital conduit in ceremony for Ambuya Chiweshe, and for the Shona people of
Zimbabwe.

free snippets of Mbira and Ambuya Chiweshe's music- she instructed us to listen to one note which she calls a voice.
http://www.stellachiweshe.com/
(click on 'music' then 'more' off any of her cds)