Zim music well received abroad

Wilfred Nyamasvisva Mafrica, who recently returned from Sweden, was overwhelmed with the respect commanded by the music among Swedes and citizens from various countries in Europe.

He was in Sweden for a cultural exchange programme and conducted workshops at primary schools and universities. “I was invited to teach mbira instruments and traditional dances and I had the privilege of imparting my knowledge of the cultural music at Stockholm University, the biggest folk music institute and traditional music centre in Sweden,” he said.

Nyamasvisva said mbira music was popular throughout the world and called on the nation and artists in particular to preserve the music for future generations as it was one of the major pillars of Zimbabwe’s cultural identity. He is expected to perform in Japan in the near future.

Traditional music has proved a hit with tourists visiting the country as they would volunteer playing traditional instruments and take some with them to their countries.

Music gurus such as Thomas Mapfumo, now based in the United States, is one of the country’s few cultural music ambassadors who have exported the music abroad.