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A Soul Of The Mbira
Zimbabwe’s Cosmas Magaya was one of the first players
to bring the mbira tradition to Europe, following the
publication of Paul Berliner’s groundbreaking book The
Soul Of Mbira. They returned to London together this
year and so Zuzana Novak met a hero…
T
he mbira is a Zimbabwean tra- to perform with the late Bandambiras at
ditional musical instrument Nyandoro), his arrival left a big impres- was possessed and he said,
that’s thought to be a thou- sion on Cosmas. “When he came to live ‘Oh look how this young man
sand years old. It’s made of with us, I wanted to learn from him, but plays mbira. In life, if he were
hardwood, with iron or steel
because of my youthful age he didn’t
“I
remember when one medium
to live for a long period, you
keys that the musician plucks with the
want to teach me, thinking I would put
will see where he will end, this young man,
thumbs and right forefinger, and is typi-
his mbiras out of tune.”
by the way he plays mbira.’ I didn’t take it
cally wedged into a gourd for extra reso-
By a process of secretly watching, lis-
seriously; I thought it was just a joke. But
nance. Technically, it’s a lamellophone,
tening and sneaking a go on his cousin’s
later on in life, you know, I thought ‘Oh!’
and you’ll find it played at everything when I started being invited and going to
from bira ceremonies, community gather-
mbira whenever possible, he was soon play-
different countries and things like that, I
ings to which master mbira players and
ing fluently from the basic repertoire and
thought ‘Oh, maybe that’s what the spirit
respected spirit mediums are invited for
when Ernest came home early one day and
medium was talking about’.”
the purpose of asking for guidance from
overheard him playing Karigamombe, he
Cosmas’s determination to play was
the ancient spirits, to the ranks of mod-
needed no more persuasion. “From today I
challenged again during his time at St
ern roots dance bands like Thomas Map-
am going to teach you how to play mbira.”
Neville’s Mission, a Roman Catholic board-
fumo & The Blacks Unlimited.
Together the boys gained notoriety
ing school where mbiras and drumming
Meeting Zimbabwe’s Cosmas Magaya
for their excellent playing at bira cere-
were not permitted. He missed his mbira,
is a humbling experience. Warm, yet self-
monies all around the district, and so
and the desire to run away was strong, but
contained, his honeyed voice exudes care
when there was to be such a ceremony at
he stuck it out and played during the holi-
and friendship when he talks. Here’s a man
Mubayiwa Bandambira’s place and the
days. At the same time one of the
with what feels like thousands of years of
great virtuoso himself was away in Nyan-
schoolteachers was pressuring him to give
experience all rolled into a modest 56.
doro, they were asked to step in. ‘Easy!
him lessons but, fearing he would be
Whilst he’s relaxed, considered and at
Take the gig!’ you cry. Thing is, Cosmas
removed from school, he denied that he
peace with himself, when I ask him to
was suffering from chicken pox and so,
played. Finding himself suddenly deluged
explain how he first came to be known as
after the now-12-year-old’s father pre-
with manual labour, he followed the advice
an mbira player he is practically giggling as vailed in an argument with his wife (hav- of a friend, accepted the teaching and was
he describes his father’s command – “Ok, ing an inkling about what it might do for amazed to see the difference in his daily
here is my bicycle, you have to be tied to his son’s career and school fees), he put chores – from digging fields to mending
the carrier…” – and tells the story. him on his bicycle, or rather tied him to it, soccer balls. The concession paid off, he had
Cosmas was just eight years old when
so that he wouldn’t fall off in his weak- more time to play and by the time he was
he first started playing mbira. His cousin-
ened state and charged Ernest with the 20, with a full-time job and a diploma in
brother, Ernest Chivanga, had come to
job of cycling him to the ceremony to play. salesmanship, his reputation was rock solid.
live with his family at the request of Cos-
No one realised that it was this young boy
It was 1971 when he was once again
mas’s Catholic mother, who disapproved who would be playing mbira and you can ‘overheard’, but this time it was by Rhode-
of her sister’s marriage to a polygamist. imagine their surprise when a gourd with sia’s Radio 2 mbira favourite, Hakurotwi
Since Ernest came from a family of great a pair of legs sticking out of it brought the Mude. As a consequence, Mude invited
mbira players (Ernest’s elder brother used place alive with powerful mbira songs. Cosmas to join his famous band Mhuri
Cosmas’ hands playing the mbira, and seated right making music with Paul Berliner, London 2009 (photos: Jak Kilby)
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