Stella Chiweshe: Talking Mbira - pi'ra:nha - Reseña

Latin Beat Magazine, August, 2002 by Jesse Varela

In the US., it was Earth, Wind and Fire who turned people on to the sounds of the African thumb piano with their Kalimba Song. A hand-held acoustic instrument with small metal tongues attached to a square wooden box with a hole for the pentatonic melodies to resonate, is called mbira in Africa. One of its premier players today is Stella Chiweshe, the queen of the instrument in Zimbabwe.

Her latest album Talking Mbira--draws from the spiritual and organic side of the iron keys with songs that are peaceful and sedate as well as upbeat. The instrumental Ndangariro, written for her deceased brother, came to her in a dream and exhibits her virtuosity as a player. Accented by haunting minor key harmonies with an array of marimbas, the combination of notes and swing pulls you into her mbira trance. Given the tumultuous political history of her homeland, the themes of freedom, respect and confronting enemies ("Laugh about it") speak to the powerful role music plays in the lives of her people. The great granddaughter of Munaika--the historical resistance fighter who was hanged by the British--Stella is also a fighter, having taken a lead role fn the formation of the Zimbabwe Musicians Union. The closing theme Huvhimi (the v/s/on for hunters) highlights the marriage between marimba and mbira and Chiweshe's almost spoken vocal delivery. With music that is practically medicinal, this global diva is well worth experiencing.