![Mbira, the thumb piano](https://media.wnyc.org/i/800/0/l/85/1/mbira_youtube.jpg)
For this New Sounds, hear music that features African thumb piano, which in southern parts of Africa is called “mbira,” in Central Africa it’s “likembe,” in East Africa, the “kalimba,” in Cameroon, it’s called “sanza.” The instrument consists of a wooden board with attached staggered metal keys.
Listen to the sanza, as played by Cameroonian singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, poet, and musicologist Francis Bebey and his music for thumb piano. There’s also trance-inducing likembe music with an electronic psychedelic sound from the Democratic Republic of Congo from Konono No. 1, from their Congotronics record. Plus, hear music by Angola-born, Paris-based Lulendo.
Listen to mbira music from England, the Pacific Northwest, and Zimbabwe, by Chipendura Mbira Trio. Also, hear music by Dumisani Maraire for Kronos Quartet, along with music by Monoswezi, a collective of musicians originally from Mozambique, Norway, Sweden and Zimbabwe. That, and more.
PROGRAM #4050, New Music for Thumb Piano (First Aired: 11/22/2017)
ARTIST: Francis Bebey
WORK: Akwaaba [5:49]
RECORDING: Akwaaba
SOURCE: Original Music #105
INFO: Out of print, but try Amazon.com or auction sites.
ARTIST: Chipendura Mbira Trio
WORK: Shumba Ya Mukwashi [6:05]
RECORDING: Pasichigare: Mystic Mbira Music of Zimbabwe
SOURCE/INFO: store.cdbaby.com/cd/chartwelldutiro1
ARTIST: Charlie Barber
WORK: Mbira Music [4:04]
RECORDING: Afrodesiac
SOURCE: Sound Affairs
INFO: store.cdbaby.com/cd/charliebarber2
ARTIST: The Ocular Concern
WORK: Lafayette [4:21]
RECORDING: Sister Cities
SOURCE: Portland Jazz Composers' Ensemble
INFO: pjce.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Konono No. 1
WORK: Kule Kule [4:33]
RECORDING: Congotronics
SOURCE: Crammed CRAW 27
INFO: crammed.greedbag.com
ARTIST: DRC Music feat. Bokatola System
WORK: We Come From the Forest [4:32]
RECORDING: KINSHASA ONE TWO
SOURCE: WARP221
INFO: warp.net
ARTIST: Lulendo
WORK: Mamona Mbua [3:58]
RECORDING: Mwinda
SOURCE: Buda Musique
INFO: budamusique.com
ARTIST: Monoswezi
WORK: Wadadisa [3:37]
RECORDING: Monoswezi Yanga
SOURCE: TUGCD 1090
INFO: worldmusic.net | monoswezi.com
ARTIST: Ellis Island Sound
WORK: Floating Home [2:59]
RECORDING: Regions
SOURCE: Village Green Records 069
INFO: villagegreenrecordings.co.uk
ARTIST: Kronos Quartet with Dumisani Maraire, vocals, mbira
WORK: Dumisani Maraire: Kutambarara (Spreading), excerpt [4:33]
RECORDING: Pieces of Africa
SOURCE: Nonesuch Records 79275
INFO: nonesuch.com