Shona peopleThe Shona people (), sometimes historically referred to as the Karanga, are a Bantu ethnic group native to Southern Africa, primarily living in Zimbabwe where they form the majority of the population, as well as Mozambique, South Africa, and worldwide diaspora. There are six major Shona language/dialect clusters: Manyika, Karanga, Zezuru, Korekore, Kalanga, and Ndau. The Shona make up at least 70% of Zimbabwe's population, with the Ndebele forming the largest minority (20%).
Hugh TraceyHugh Travers Tracey (29 January 1903 – 23 October 1977) was a British ethnomusicologist. He and his wife collected and archived music from Southern and Central Africa. From the 1920s through the 1970s, Tracey made over 35,000 recordings of African folk music. He popularized the mbira (a musical instrument of the Shona people) internationally under the name kalimba. Hugh Tracey saw the importance of music within culture when he worked a tobacco farm in Southern Rhodesia.
Hosho (instrument)The hosho are Zimbabwean musical instruments consisting of a pair of (mapudzi) gourds with seeds. They are used as major instruments in many traditional Shona music genres, such as in mbira ensembles and in mhande. They typically contain hota (Canna indica) seeds inside them. Before the hota seeds are added, the hosho is boiled in salted water and the inside is scraped out with a corncob, newspaper plug, or woven wire.
Musical instrumentA musical instrument is a device created or adapted to make musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can be considered a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. A person who plays a musical instrument is known as an instrumentalist. The history of musical instruments dates to the beginnings of human culture.
ZimbabweCountry in Southeast AfricaFlag Coat of armsMotto: "Unity, Freedom, Work"Anthem: "Blessed Be the Land of Zimbabwe"Show globeShow map of AfricaCapitaland largest cityHarare17°49′45″S31°03′08″E / 17.82917°S 31.05222°E / -17.82917; 31.05222Official languages16 languages: ChewaChibarweEnglishKalangaKhoisanNambyaNdauNdebeleShanganiShonaSothoTongaTswanaVendaXhosaZimbabwean sign languageEthnic groups (2022 census)99.6% Black African0.2% European0.1% Coloured0.1% otherReligion (2017)84.1% Christianity69.2% Protestantism14.9% other Christian10.2% no religion4.5% traditional faiths1.2% othersDemonymZimbabweanGovernmentUnitary assembly-independent republic• PresidentEmmerson Mnangagwa• First Vice-PresidentConstantino Chiwenga• Second Vice-PresidentKembo MohadiLegislatureParliament• Upper houseSenate• Lower houseNational AssemblyIndependencefrom the United Kingdom• Declared11 November 1965• Republic2 March 1970• Zimbabwe Rhodesia1 June 1979• Independence recognised18 April 1980• Current constitution15 May 2013Area • Total390,757 km (150,872 sq mi) (60th)• Water (%)1Population• February 2026 estimate 17,166,852 (74th)• 2022 census15,178,957• Density45/km (116.5/sq mi) (179th)GDP (PPP)2025 estimate• Total $93.870 billion (104th)• Per capita $5,410 (151st)GDP (nominal)2025 estimate• Total $53.310 billion (101st)• Per capita $3,070 (152nd)Gini (2019) 45.5medium inequalityHDI (2023) 0.598medium (153rd)CurrencyDe jure: Zimbabwe Gold (ZWG)De facto: United States dollar (USD)South African rand (ZAR);Other currenciesTime zoneUTC+2 (CAT)Date formatdd/mm/yyyyCalling code+263ISO 3166 codeZWInternet TLD.zwZimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo River, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia to the north, and Mozambique to the east.
IdiophoneAn idiophone is any musical instrument that creates sound primarily by the vibration of the instrument itself, without the use of air flow (as with aerophones), strings (chordophones), membranes (membranophones) or electricity (electrophones). It is the first of the four main divisions in the original Hornbostel–Sachs system of musical instrument classification (see List of idiophones by Hornbostel–Sachs number).
Tine (structural)Tines (; also spelled tynes), prongs or teeth are parallel or branching spikes forming parts of a tool or natural object. They are used to spear, hook, move or otherwise act on other objects. They may be made of wood, bone, metal, or similar materials. The number of tines on tools varies widely. A pitchfork may have just two, a garden fork may have four, and a rake or harrow many.
Maurice WhiteMaurice White (December 19, 1941 – February 4, 2016) was an American musician, best known as the founder, leader, main songwriter and chief producer of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, also serving as the band's co-lead singer with Philip Bailey. Described as a "visionary" by Vibe and a "mastermind" by Variety, White was nominated for a total of 22 Grammys, of which he won seven.
MusicologyMusicology is the academic, research-based study of music, as opposed to musical composition or performance. Musicology research combines and intersects with many fields, including psychology, sociology, acoustics, neurology, natural sciences, formal sciences and computer science. Musicology is traditionally divided into three branches: music history, systematic musicology, and ethnomusicology.
LamellophoneA lamellophone (also lamellaphone or linguaphone) is a member of the family of musical instruments that makes its sound by a thin vibrating plate called a lamella or tongue, which is fixed at one end and has the other end free. When the musician depresses the free end of a plate with a finger or fingernail, and then allows the finger to slip off, the released plate vibrates.
Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage elementsDistribution by country as of 2018UNESCO established its Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage with the aim of ensuring better protection of important intangible cultural heritages worldwide and the awareness of their significance. This list is published by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the members of which are elected by State Parties meeting in a General Assembly.
EthnomusicologyStudy of the cultural aspects of musicJaap Kunst, early ethnomusicologist and creator of the term 'ethno-musicology', plays the Indonesian triton, beside other traditional Indonesian instruments.Ethnomusicology is the multidisciplinary study of music in its cultural context. The discipline investigates social, cognitive, biological, comparative, and other dimensions.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.