Chaminuka: Music From Zimbabwe

Dumisani Maraire | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 17, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Music Of The World
• ASIN: B000003ITD
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #375,544 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #64 in Music > World Music > Africa > Zimbabwe

Track Listings

1. Butsu Mutandari

2. Chaminuka

3. Machekeche

4. Chemutengure/Mudendero

5. Kutambarara

6. Mwanangu Kura Uridze Mbira

7. Buka Njari

8. Yuwi Maiwe

9. Mwanawe Ndoerera

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not an Introductory Album -- Work Your Way up to This One., June 4, 2003

By 

Stephen Foster (Seattle, WA United States, via Scotland) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chaminuka: Music From Zimbabwe (Audio CD)

This is (mostly) a solo album by the Master himself. It is pure, undistilled, classical mbira. If you are already familiar with the form, the cadences, the intervals of mbira music, and the rather odd way the vocals interact with the instrument, then you can stop searching right now -- you've found the Holy Grail (or you will have, when you track down a copy!)

If, on the other hand, your ears are steeped in music of the Western tradition, then you'll probably find this a little dry and odd. What your ears will need is just a little education. Of music that is in print and readily available, I would recommend Thomas Mapfumo's "Live at El Rey," recorded when his band was fronted by two mbira players. The rest of the band is really an African rock 'n roll lineup, so it's a very different style than classical mbira (and some of the most danceable music ever created!), but it's a nice introduction to the style of the mbira.

Once you're hooked, try to track down one or two of Dumi's marimba ensemble albums. They are criminally ALL out of print, and very rare, but worth any amount of effort to find. The most instantly-accessible album is "Dumi - The Maraire Marimba Ensemble" which was actually recorded in Seattle, with the ensemble composed mostly of Americans! I dare you to try standing still while it is playing.

From there, the next step up is "African Story-Songs," published in 1969 by the University of Washington Press. It is composed of 8 story-songs, told in English by Dumi as he plays.

Next is "Shona Spirit" - a Dumi CD that IS still in print. He plays duets with Ephat Mujuru -- another mbira master.

Finally, there is this never-to-be-repeated album (Dumi sadly died on Thanksgiving, 1999), which by then you will be able to appreciate for the shining gem that it is.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it, February 3, 2002

By 

"dialo" (South Africa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chaminuka: Music From Zimbabwe (Audio CD)

This is true, traditional African music that will help reawaken your black soul. Brothers, stop being mislead and buying white commercial, business stuff, and get the stuff that is in harmony with your inner being!