Meet Our Trusted Mbira Makers
Buy direct - cut out the ‘middle man’, reduce your cost, and empower mbira makers to manage their own businesses
Over the last thirteen years I’ve visited workshops, played hundreds of instruments, worked alongside many of Zimbabwe’s finest musicians, and helped beginners choose their first mbiras. The trusted makers listed here consistently produce instruments I’d happily recommend to my own friends.
Beyond the mbira dzavadzimu, most of these makers offer other types of instrument: including mbira nyunga nyunga/karimba, matepe and njari.
Once you’ve chosen your favourite maker, get their contact info, typical prices, instrument photos, further buying advice, and LOADS more inside your FREE Mbira Essentials Pack.
If you’re still unsure about sending your money to Zimbabwe, you can order mbiras from Leonard Chiyanike and Gift Chigede, in a range of popular tunings, direct from me.
The ‘Trusted Mbira Makers - 2nd Ed.’ guide is included inside your FREE ‘Mbira Essentials’ pack.
Leonard Chiyanike 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Leonard is one of Zimbabwe’s most well known, and highly regarded mbira makers - often with a supply of mukwa wood.
Typically, his keys are thick with mid-heavy playing action - deep meditative resonance, but soft enough for light playing.
Beginners, or those with small hands may prefer a smaller instrument.
Leonard works an 8-hectare farm with his wife, Patricia. Your mbira will come, but please allow time for the crops and cattle to take priority.
Pasivillais Tandi, long time playing partner of Forward Kwenda, plays Marenje on one of Leonard’s nemakonde / nhemakonde tuned mbiras.
Forward plays Mbavarira on my favourite mbira, made by Leonard.
At the end of the video, Forward talks about being reunited with Nemakonde tuning, and shares some insights about his extraordinary improvisation process.
Tapfumaneyi Mushoshoma 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Mushoshoma is a new, fast, and innovative mbira maker, with a good supply of mukwa wood, and loads of customisation options available.
Typically, his keys are light playing action - great for effortless playing.
In this first video I’m playing one of his double-sided mbiras:
• One side is Bb Nyamaropa, and the other is G# Mavembe
• Two compatible tunings on the same instrument make for lots of sympathetic resonance, but also some extra weight to carry
In this video you can see even more customisation possibilities available from Mushoshoma:
• Split-bass keys (unplayed) resonate for extra symphony
• A dongonda-style right hand matches the notes of the upper left
• The extra register of notes on the upper right widen the range to re-include more common notes
Lino, Rodwell, and mbira maker, Mushoshoma play three compatible ‘orchestra style’ tunings - all crafted by him.
Sebastian Pott 🇩🇪 Germany
Preferred mbira maker of Chartwell Dutiro, Sebastian produces top-of-the-range instruments with impeccable attention to detail.
Typically, Sebastian’s keys are heavy playing action - for strong, responsive sound.
With 30+ Years experience making mbiras Sebastians knowledge of the subject is vast.
Sebastian teaches small groups - visit our mbira making page for more information on his mbira making workshops.
Check out my interview with Chartwell where he talks about meeting and working with Sebastian. Our conversation ends with the two of them performing mbira together.
Rodrigo Laje 🇦🇷 Argentina
Beautiful instruments crafted with deep respect for Shona culture.
Having studied with a variety of Zimbabwean mbira makers, Rodrigo is able to offer a range of construction approaches (hot/cold forging, Argentinian tone-woods, specific overtones, etc..), along with his own customisations.
Rodrigo’s keys are typically mid-weight - suitable for all players.
Listen to different mbira tunings on Rodrigo’s SoundCloud page.
A Katsanzaira tuned mbira from Rodrigo, customised with gentle-sounding ‘buzzer box’, and my preferred 26-key mbira layout.
I particularly like his higher tuned mbiras for their angelic, bell-like sound and good note sustain.
Gift Chigede 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Preferred maker of master mbira player, Forward Kwenda. Stunning instruments to see, hold and hear.
Gift offers a wide range of mbira instrument layouts in all tunings. Typically, his keys are mid-weight - suitable for all players.
His D Nyamaropa mbiras (see our shumba video) are an increasingly popular choice of players worldwide, as they match Forward’s nyamaropa performances and tutorials in our mbira video archive + learning library, www.Mbira.Online
Mbira Buying Guide
Still unsure what tuning and specification to order?
Check out the detailed advice in our Mbira Buying Guide.