AMBUYATI NYATI

Songs and mbira from Zimbabwe
Part 1

Ambuya Nyati : chant, mbira, hosho
Dingiswayo Juma : chant, mbira, hosho, ngoma
Spiwe Juma : chant, mbira, hosho

Ambuya Nyati (Judith Juma) skilfully presents the culture and traditional values of the Shona, Zimbabwe's principal ethnic group. The deep sounds of the mbira combined with her captivating voice evoke far off lands. The mbira is a lamellophone from the sanza family, characteristic of the Bantu people. Its original function for the Shona people was to communicate with ancestral spirits and ask them for advice during channelling ceremonies, which music plays a major part of.

Nyati is a musician, medium and healer. An independent African woman, she raised her children to respect tradition and taught them music. Accompanied by her son Dingiswayo and her daughter Spiwe, she offers us a bewitching and peaceful experience of this music that is now popular well beyond the circle of traditional ceremonies.