These are some of the mbira makers whose work I admire and from whom I've learned.

Tute Chigamba is an mbira maker and virtuoso who plays primarily in Gandanga tuning. He is known for his many beautiful compositions in this tuning - each “approved” by the ancestors at a bira ceremony before he names it. His calm, technically brilliant, intricate mbira style is reminiscent of a Western classical music master, and may be deeply relaxing and meditative in its lack of tension.

Mr. Chigamba made the first mbira I ever played (or saw!). I took measurements from his mbira and figured out how to make mbira on my own, with no one to teach me.

Fradreck Mujuru