Online Reporter
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
HOPE Masike’s quest to reclaim African music’s intellectual heritage recently received a major boost after she joined regional musicians, scholars and educators at the second UNISA African Music Festival and Symposium.
As the only Zimbabwean participant at Muckleneuk Campus in Pretoria, the mbira princess said she was humbled by the honour and the opportunity to share knowledge with other African music practitioners and scholars.
Her presentation, titled ‘Mbira Mberi/Mbira Forward’ — Reconceptualising Mbira as a Currency of Cultural and Economic Value,’ explored the cultural and economic significance of the instrument.
She also introduced two films, ‘The Queen of Mbira — Stella Chiweshe’ and ‘The Spirit of the People’ by Simon Bright, produced in the 1980s.
Buoyed by the impact of her book, ‘Mbira Mberi/Mbira Forward’, which has been endorsed by several universities, Masike described the recent trip as an eye-opening experience.
“It was a wonderful experience and a wonderful opportunity to share knowledge on African music with other musicians and scholars,” said Masike.
“The symposium was focused on trying to design a formal syllabus on African music.
“So, we were discussing how we can come up with a universal syllabus for a grading system of practical examinations, covering mbira and its different types.
“Of course, Zimbabwe was there because we are one of the countries that embrace mbira the most, but we were also talking about other mbira types, including those found in South Africa and across Africa.
“So, we were discussing how we can do that.
“Aside from all that, there was a festival going on, with performances taking place on each of the two evenings.”
Masike also urged Africans to embrace indigenous instruments, arguing that traditional music represents an important body of knowledge that should be preserved and developed.
“It is important because there is this common term we have now, which we call Indigenous Knowledge Systems, and you will find that in our traditional music, in our African music, there is a whole knowledge system of its own.
“I think it is important for us to keep learning and developing our roots so that they remain relevant.
“They should not become obsolete, but remain relevant as time changes and as eras change.
“It is a heritage, it is part of our currency if well utilised,” she said.
Turning to her book, ‘Mbira Mberi/Mbira Forward’, Masike believes it can help music students gain an in-depth understanding of the mbira and its cultural significance.
“To music students who have a passion for traditional instruments, this is a very useful book.
“I think to music students, it is an eye-opener in many ways. It is a resource book and an authority for assignments,” she added.
Revered author and academic, Ignatius Mabasa, edited the book, which has already been endorsed by several local universities offering music studies.
Schools have also been scrambling for copies of the book, which provides a refreshing and informative read from the first chapter to the last.
Masike also highlighted how mbira has remained relevant both as a musical instrument and a cultural symbol, standing the test of time despite changing generations and musical trends.
She spent one-and-a-half years conducting extensive and meticulous research for the book, which enlightens readers about the cultural significance of the mbira and the traditions associated with it.
A researcher, mbira player, arts administrator and mentor, Masike has once again demonstrated her creativity through the publication, which can serve as a valuable resource for music students from kindergarten to tertiary level.
What further enhances the book’s appeal is the fact that it comes after mbira was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2020.
The recognition reinforced mbira’s status as an important cultural instrument whose significance should be preserved and passed on to future generations.
Besides ‘Mbira Mberi/Mbira Forward’, Masike has published four other books — ‘Ask Me Again’ (2020), ‘Dzevabvazera’ (2022), ‘Die With Me — Horror and Short Story (2023), and ‘Our Sacred Place: Love Poems and Short Stories Inspired by the Book of Solomon’ (2024).
Despite her busy schedule as a performer, administrator and music teacher, Masike has remained committed to reclaiming African music’s intellectual heritage through research, education and cultural exchange programmes.
