Mbira
An African Musical Tradition
The mbira is a mystical form of music from Zimbabwe and is considered to have the power to provide comfort and healing to all who experience it.
Mahea’s mbira journey began with her attending a concert at Berkeley’s Freight & Salvage on a whim. A friend had an extra ticket to an mbira performance by Erica Azim and Forward Kwenda. She was enchanted and immediately signed up for lessons. She has played the mbira for over 25 years.
In addition to regular lessons with Erica Azim of mbira.org, she has traveled multiple times to Zimbabwe to study at the feet of mbira masters such as “Samaita” Vitalis Botsa, Cainot Gweremwezhe, Patience Chaitezvi Munjeri, Tute Chigamba, Irene Chigamba, Leonard Chiyanike, Ambuya Beauler Dyoko, Forward Kwenda, Eliot Motsi, Ambuya Jenny Muchumi, Fradreck Mujuru, Fungai “Zhanje” Mujuru, Castle Munduna, and Renold and Caution Shonhai.
She has produced two collections of mbira music, “Ndoro”, and “The Sky That Covers Us All”, and has authored the book “The Mbira – An African Musical Tradition.”
DARE
During the pandemic, she produced an online interview series called Dare (dah – ray), Conversations in the Diaspora which explored the music of Zimbabwe and other performance traditions which exist in the diaspora. The conversations with artists focussed on their art form and their personal journey.
African American Mbira Project (AAMP)
She also produces the African American Mbira Project (AAMP) to help introduce, support and perpetuate the music of the mbira within the African American community. The AAMP also produces Zimbabwean music workshops for the community.
The AAMP offers two 10-week mbira workshops each year in early spring and early autumn.
The next session of the AAMP begins on September 21, 2026.
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