Do certain genders only play the Mbira?

Answer 1

It is traditionally played by men. But some female musicians have been able to break this gender barrier.

Mbira player Stella Rambisai Chiweshe says:

"I first learned mbira in 1966, in Harare and Mhondoro. I was taught by my uncle. But he doesn't play any more because his fingers have become stiff. I last saw him in 1974. He was a full time player, a very old man who just sits at home and plays. He saw I very much wanted to learn. Saw me trying to find someone to teach me. He said come and sit next to me and I will show you how to do it. He was very kind. Other people thought they cant teach a woman to play, because mbira's not a woman's instrument, its meant to be played only by men. They say if you play mbira you'll not be able to do women's work, you'll always be on the men's. It is very painful to play mbira. Maybe they feel sorry for a woman to do such a painful thing. Women are also not meant to play the drum because it's a man's instrument. If a woman is playing it, it shows no respect for tradition, but I play it because I wan to. When my uncle showed me how to play, I had a burning lump in my chest a pain like when a close person dies. But when he said 'come learn', the pain started to go [away] and I felt good. It didn't take a long time to learn which keys to play. What takes a long time is how to play for a long time. It is like the wheel goes round and round. At a ceremony you must be able to play for the whole night. You get blisters on the fingers. But you must care and feel for the music, you must play hard for the people to hear because mbira [in its indigenous setting] is not amplified"