mbira

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“
She learned to play the mbira, the African thumb piano, at age 4 and was performing on her parents 'album "Tichazomuona" at age

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Definitions (2)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. noun An African musical instrument consisting of a hollow gourd or wooden resonator and a number of usually metal strips that vibrate when plucked.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (1)

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Examples (7)

  • Brazil street music appears ( "Carnivao"); the mbira hint at Africa ( "Atom's Song"); intercultural messages are embedded into the Gnawa ( "Salaam Shalom"). —  PopMatters
  • She learned to play the mbira, the African thumb piano, at age 4 and was performing on her parents 'album "Tichazomuona" at age —  TimesArgus.com: Sports
  • It is ultimately a very satisfying search, as other instruments - oud, keys, mbira, accordion, cello, and a wide variety of percussion devices-join in to propel the expedition. —  PopMatters
  • This Zimbabwean singer does a fine job of integrating the sound of her instrument, the mbira (traditional thumb piano), with the requirements of making a contemporary pop record. —  The Independent - Frontpage RSS Feed
  • Chiwoniso plays mbira, the thumb piano at the heart of Zimbabwean Shona traditional music, and hosho, the gourd maraca, with her sister Tawona on backing vocals, a second mbira player, rhythm section, and percussion. —  World Music Central
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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Of Bantu origin; akin to Shona m-bìrà.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. S. African.
 

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/ˈmbirə/
by American Heritage

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