Jackie Bond- Outside Reading

For my world music class, I wrote a paper about a sacred african instrument called the mbira. This instrument was banned by the English in Zimbabwe when it was still under their control because the people were afraid of its spiritual powers. It was believed that playing the instrument could help the person connect with the spirits and experience health, healing, strength, power and more. So for years the instrument was played at night at secret ceremonies to avoid being sent to jail. Now that the instrument is legalized, there are many people who are learning to play it. I learned alot through writing and researching for this paper about the sacredness that can come not only with a place or landscape but also with objects such as instruments.