Traditional Mbira of Zimbabwe Among the Shona people of Zimbabwe, the mbira (a thumb piano made of forged iron keys bound to a wooden box) is traditionally played at religious and spiritual ceremonies and social celebrations. The indigenous instrument is also the national instrument of Zimbabwe and was widely used well before the country was colonized by Europeans. The sound of the mbira is augmented by the buzzing sound of shells, rattles, or bottle caps that are attached to the instrument and add a much-desired timbre to the overall sound."Chaminuka" (Dumisani Maraire) Owl's Head Publishing Co. (BMI) from Dumisani Maraire: Chaminuka: Music of Zimbabwe (Cat.# Music of the World CDC-208) (p)1989 Music of the World, Ltd. All rights reserved. Expand
The bulk of Zimbabwe’s population is formed by two major Bantu-speaking ethnic groups: the Shona (Mashona), who constitute at least 70 per cent of the total population, and the Ndebele (Matabele), who constitute about 16 per cent of the total and are concentrated in the south-western regions. The European minority comprises 2 per cent of the population. There are several minor indigenous ethnic groups, including the Tonga, Sena, Venda, and Sotho. The country also has small minorities of Asians and people of mixed ethnic origin. Ethnic conflict between the Matabele and the Mashona erupted in the 1980s because the ruling political party, aligned to the Mashona, had suppressed the main opposition party, which represented the Matabele.
A Population Characteristics
Zimbabwe has a population of 12,671,860 (2004 estimate), which gives the country an average population density of only 33 people per sq km (85 per sq mi). Zimbabwe has a high population growth rate (3 per cent a year in the early 1980s; an estimated 0.68 per cent in 2004). Around 63 per cent of the population live in rural areas. The emigration of whites, which began in the mid-1970s, continued after independence in 1980; in the early 1990s there were 100,000 whites, compared with 223,000 in 1980. Even so, and despite a considerable increase in the numbers of black entrepreneurs and senior managers, the white community was still playing a dominant role in Zimbabwe’s large private sector more than a decade after independence. Whites are generally more affluent than blacks. There was a small but steady flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa in search of better-paid employment, which in turn exacerbated unemployment problems in that country. Average life expectancy at birth (2004 estimate) is 37.8 years (37 years for women and 38.6 years for men), although this will be considerably higher for the white population.
B Principal Cities
Harare, Zimbabwe Founded as a military post by British colonialists, Harare rapidly grew into a modern city once it was connected to ocean ports by railway. The city serves as a distribution centre for the surrounding agricultural and mining region. The capital and largest city of Zimbabwe, Harare is a prominent link in the country’s transport network, which is one of the best systems in Africa.Tony Stone Images/Christopher Arnesen
Zimbabwe’s largest city, and main commercial and cultural centre, as well as its capital, is Harare (formerly Salisbury), which has a population of 1,752,000 (2000 estimate). The country’s second city, and the main centre of Matabeleland, is Bulawayo, population 620,936 (1992), an important manufacturing centre and railway junction. Other major centres (with their populations) include Chitungwiza, 274,912 (1992), a black dormitory town; Gweru (formerly Gwelo), 128,027 (1992), a mining centre; Mutare (formerly Umtali), 131,367 (1992), located in an agricultural and forestry region; and Kwekwe (formerly Que Que), 75,425 (1992), an industrial and mining centre.
C Religion
More than 40 per cent of the population is at least nominally Christian. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists, and Presbyterians are large groups, and many independent Churches are active. Some 40 per cent of the population follows traditional religions.
