Forward Kwenda is one of the most respected mbira performers in Zimbabwe. He was born in the rural Buhera area of Zimbabwe, an area known for its fierce resistance to colonial rulers and respect for Shona tradition. As a young boy, Forward excelled in traditional dance and recitation of ancient poetry. At the age of 10, he began to play ngoma (drums) and hosho (gourd rattles) for his mother's gombwe (rain-making) spirit. He was given the name "Forward" because of his curiosity about many subjects, enthusiastic involvement in many activities and his singing for liberation war freedom fighters. Mbira Dzavadzimu in deze (top), Mbira Nyunga Nyunga (bottom), Hosho (bottom left). ... Buhera is a village in the province of Manicaland, Zimbabwe about 82 km south east of Chivhu. ... Shona may refer to: Shona people, a Southern African people. ... Ngoma is the only settlement in the south of Kafue National Park. ... For the Japanese aircraft carrier see Hosho. ...

At an early age, Forward borrowed an mbira and, with no teacher other than occaisional radio programs, began to play on his own. In 1984, Kwenda moved to Zimbabwe's capital city of Harare and began to play mbira with other musicians. Within a year, he had formed his own mbira group and was making records and performing on national radio, as well as performing constantly at mapira ceremonies. During this period, he was informed by powerful rain-making spirits that he was to devote his life to playing mbira for their ceremonies. He was particularly known as a teenager for bringing the desired spirits to a ceremony by the end of the first song he played at a ceremony. 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Map of Zimbabwe with the province highlighted Harare (pronounced , formerly Salisbury) is the capital city of Zimbabwe. ...

In 1985, Forward began playing in a unique complex style - much to the amazement of master mbira players two and three generations his senior. This style, considered in Shona culture to be "more ancient" because spirits prefer it, was first recorded in 1985 and 1986 by his American friend Glenn Makuna, who dubbed Kwenda "the Coltrane of mbira.". Hand-to-hand distribution of those cassettes, and others recorded later, has led to international acclaim for the virtuosity, soulfulness, and unprecedented range of melodic and rhythmic improvisation of Kwenda's playing. Meanwhile, he is in great demand in Zimbabwe, where the most ancient spirits, the makombwe, believed to be the ancestors of all mankind, prefer Kwenda's ancient style and come to earth as soon as he begins playing his mbira. Kwenda claims "It's not me, my spirits just play through me," and takes no credit whatsoever for his virtuosity. 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Asked about his experience of playing mbira, Forward responds:

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 until I can end up crying because the music is so much greater than a human being can understand.....I just have to get out of the way so spirits can make my mbira play - it isn't me - I'm just amazed.

In 1997, Kwenda toured the US with Erica Azim, and recorded the Shanachie CD Svikiro: Meditations of an Mbira Master. In 1999, a transcendent field recording of Kwenda on a Zimbabwean mountaintop at sunset. In February 2000, Kwenda performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC with Erica Azim, and they toured North America during 2000, 2001 and 2002. Image File history File links Cquote1. ... Image File history File links Cquote2. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... United States may refer to: Places: United States of America SS United States, the fastest ocean liner ever built. ... Erica Azim is one of the leading western authorities on, and practitioners of, Zimbabwean mbira music. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... The Kennedy Center as seen from the Potomac River. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... This article is about the year 2000. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ...

See also

• Mbira
• Shona Music
• Zimbabwe

Mbira Dzavadzimu in deze (top), Mbira Nyunga Nyunga (bottom), Hosho (bottom left). ...

External Links

• MBIRA - A non-profit in support of Shona music