The Zimbabwe College of Music (ZCM) has announced a new educational workshop aimed at reimagining the mbira for contemporary music, while preserving its deep cultural roots.
The inaugural Mbiravolution Workshop, titled “The Contemporary Traditional,” will take place on Thursday, 29 January, from 10:00 to 13:00, at the Zimbabwe College of Music campus in Harare.
The session will explore how the traditional Shona instrument can be integrated into modern global genres, from reggae and rock to jazz-inspired African sounds.
According to ZCM, the workshop is designed to bridge ancient Shona rhythms with modern musical structures, positioning the mbira as a living, evolving instrument rather than a relic of the past.
Mbira meets Bob Marley, The Cranberries and Miriam Makeba
Participants will study how mbira techniques can be applied to well-known works by international music icons, including Bob Marley in reggae, The Cranberries in rock, and Miriam Makeba in Soweto jazz.
Organisers say this practical approach will help musicians understand how traditional Zimbabwean sounds can travel across genres and borders.
The session will be led by Hector Rufaro Mugani, a respected musician, multi-instrumentalist and ethnomusicologist known for his innovative work in Zimbabwean traditional music.
“Mbiravolution is more than just a class; it is a movement to ensure our traditional sounds remain vibrant and relevant in the global contemporary music scene,” the ZCM organising committee said.
Open to all skill levels
The workshop has been structured to cater for beginners, intermediate players and expert musicians, with tailored breakout sessions for each level. Organisers say no prior experience is required, making it accessible to anyone interested in learning or expanding their understanding of the mbira.
The registration fee is US$10 per person, with a confirmation deadline of Wednesday, 28 January.
Preserving tradition while embracing innovation
Hector Mugani said the workshop was responding to long-standing perceptions that the mbira belongs only to the past.
“For too long, the mbira has been confined to a single narrative,” he said. “Through this workshop, we are intentionally creating a new space for the instrument within the global music industry.”
He added that the session would focus on practical skills and technical methods needed to integrate mbira into genres such as jazz, electronic music and modern songwriting, while protecting its spiritual and cultural foundations.
About Mbiravolution and ZCM
Mbiravolution is a growing artistic movement dedicated to the evolution of mbira music.
It introduces new learning frameworks, including the ‘Manomwe Mazwi’ approach, which simplifies complex Shona scales for modern teaching, while maintaining strict respect for traditional culture.
Founded in 1948, the Zimbabwe College of Music is the country’s leading institution for music education.
Operating as a trust, it offers qualifications from National Certificates to Bachelor of Music degrees and promotes a Heritage-based Education 5.0 philosophy, aimed at taking indigenous Zimbabwean knowledge onto the global stage.
Organisers say the Mbiravolution Workshop marks an important step in ensuring the mbira not only survives, but continues to evolve in the modern music world.
