New Mbira Album: Chawapiwa by Forward Kwenda Mbira Madzimbahwe

Mbira master Forward Kwenda has collaborated with two of his students to release a new mbira album, Chawapiwa. It’s an 8 track album offering a number of favourites for many mbira enthusiasts and players.

The album is a result of a collaboration that was proposed by Forward Kwenda to his students Shiho Manabe (Japan) and Yann Dubois (France). The album is available to buy online on Bandcamp.

They are planning concerts and tours to share the music. Kwenda believes this collaboration is a demonstration of how music can bring people together.

The Musicians

Forward Kwenda is a highly celebrated mbira musician known for his unique playing style and strong vocals. Considered by many to be one of the greatest mbira players, he says that his spirits play the mbira, not him. “When I pick up my mbira, I don’t know what is going to happen. The music just goes by itself, taking me higher and higher”. He has recorded many albums and taught several students over the years. Shiho Manabe started to play mbira in 2016 in Japan. In the same year she was so moved by Forward Kwenda’s music at a concert in Japan that she could hardly hold her tears. following this she visited Zimbabwe in February and August 2018 to learn mbira from Forward Kwenda. She currently runs the Chawapiwa Mbira Café in Zentsuji in Japan. Yann Dubois started learning mbira in 2001 from Ephat Mujuru. He plays different types of mbira including Nhare, Njari, and Nyunga Nyunga. In October 2017, he met Forward Kwenda and asked to learn his mbira style.