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Recycled 15-key Mbira Instrument (Zimbabwe)

Overall Rating Rating 3.9  |  18 reviews
Today $39.69
Item #: 12013619
  • Quintessential African musical instrument is made from recycled materials
  • Zimbabwean mbira is a thumb piano with a magical sound
  • Instrument is made from scraps of tin, wood and bottle caps
  • Jedando Modern Handicrafts
  • ...more

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    Product Features:
    • Quintessential African musical instrument is made from recycled materials
    • Zimbabwean mbira is a thumb piano with a magical sound
    • Craftspeople made this instrument from scraps of tin, wood and bottle caps
    • Rusty metal and varnished wood add to the mystery of this musical instrument
    • All musician must own a mbria
    • Measures 5.5 inches x 8 inches x 0.5 inches
    Story Behind the Art

    In a country where it is nearly impossible to buy a loaf of bread, artisans, eke out a living by making unique crafts. Started in Harare, Zimbabwe, by Simba Dominic Mushati, an artisan who carves beautiful wood sculptures, Murenga Arts and Crafts finds international markets for individual artisans who no longer can rely on sales to tourists.

    What is Worldstock?

    The handcrafted touch of artisan skill creates variations in color, size and design. If buying two of the same item, slight differences should be expected. Note: Color discrepancies may occur between this product and your computer screen.


Dimensions:
5.5 x 8 x .5
Materials:
wood, metal, love
Model No:
ZWI002 - 536014
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Showing 2 most helpful reviews on this product.

  • 5 Stars 8
  • 4 Stars 5
  • 3 Stars 2
  • 2 Stars 1
  • 1 Stars 2

Overall Rating: 3.9

Most Helpful Reviews

  • Misleading.

    I expected an atleast playable instrument. I've made tow kalimbas (a very similar instrument) and both have been far better than this mbira. It looks cool. Rusty. Third Worldish. But not playable. The tines/keys are rusted and not filed properly. It is nowhere near in tune and can't really be retuned due to the weird bridge design. I'm disappointed. I'd love to say I love it. As a decoration, yes. But not as anything else.

  • poor tunig, poor quality

    I have other instruments of this type, so I know that the notes are off, there is a funny tinny sound with some of the notes, and it was much poorer quality than pictured. I shall return it as defective.

View All Most Helpful Reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  • fun instrument for the price

    This is a cheap instrument that is fun to play. Great for kids and creative people looking for a unique sound. It is difficult to record the lower notes without getting way too much buzz from the cymbals, but that might be fixed by hammering the nails in further and securing the cymbals tighter.

    • Did the color match the color displayed onsite? yes
    • Please tell us about the quality of the product. Quality of materials is not high--one of the keys wiggles around, and the "cymbals" buzz a bit too much, and the wood isn't sanded.
    • How accurate was the sizing? not sure--it was smaller than I expected but I don't recall the dimensions given
  • very interesting Mbira exactly as described

    It sounds fine but it is not tuned and there are no suggestions on the best scale for tuning Hopefully I will figure it out by trial and error. Since the sound is nice I will spend the time to figure out the tuning but it is not easy to do this.so do not buy it if you don't know choice for scales ( C G or D are typical scales I use)

    • Did the color match the color displayed onsite? yes
    • Please tell us about the quality of the product. OK
    • How accurate was the sizing? OK
    Flag

    juliebelize from Boston MA,

  • Music for body and soul

    My first mbira was a thumb piano that was mass-produced in South Africa. I learned to play it by listening to smooth jazzz. Years later I received an Zimbabwean mbira from a friend who lives in Harare. The tone was much better than my first instrument and I played it to music or by itself. I was laid up for a couple months and I found myself relaxing as I ran up an down the keyboard. I believe it has a special quality that encourages good health. Because of the craft involved in these refurbished instruments, I have sent this one as a "get well" gift for an old friend. She loves it too!

    • Did the color match the color displayed onsite? Yes.
    • Please tell us about the quality of the product. This instrument shows excellent craftmanship.
    • How accurate was the sizing? It was perfect.
    Flag

    kizzybyrd from North Coast,

  • Mbira instrument

    Not an instrument per se. More of a decorator item perhaps. Returned it for refund as it was unplayable.

    • Did the color match the color displayed onsite? no
    • Please tell us about the quality of the product. bad
    • How accurate was the sizing? bad
    Flag

    mannycongo from Annapolis, MD,

  • love this

    this is a piece of junk - but the good kind of junk. I love this! it has nice sound and is fun to play. It really is made from recycled junk so don't expect something new. It comes with a card explaining the process and that just makes it even cooler if you ask me. I bought this for my son and I know he will love it. I love helping the people who made it as well.

    • Did the color match the color displayed onsite? yes
    • Please tell us about the quality of the product. it's primitive and scrappy
    • How accurate was the sizing? don't know for sure
    Flag

    sams48 from Kentucky,

View All Most Recent Reviews

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Standard Return Policy:

Items must be returned in new or unused condition and contain all original materials included with the shipment. More details

FINAL SALE EXCLUSION: Items marked as FINAL SALE are not returnable unless the problem you experience is the result of our error.

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* For your safety, some orders go through our loss prevention department. If we select your order for this process, we will immediately notify you that there may be up to a 3-day delay on your order.

** Most Oversize orders are delivered within 1-4 weeks. Some orders may take 6 weeks to be delivered.

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