Kuenda Mbire
Background
Legend is that, in the old Mbire Province of 16th
Century or even before, that includes the present day Hwedza, there was a small
venomous snake that was only found in this area. The venom was so poisonous
that if it fell on green wood or grass,
it would dry up immediately. If it bit an animal, the latter’s hooves, teeth
and horns would fall off within 24 hours. The Hwedza Mbires were famed for
making war weapons such as spears, axes (gano) and arrows, on account of the
fact that the Hwedza Mountains were full of iron deposits. The Nembire (Chief
of the Mbires or Mwenembire) anointed his weapons with paste made from the
venom of the little snake. The effect of the stab or cut from weapon was the
same as the bite from the little snake. If ever you offended Nembire, you had
nowhere to hide.
Kuenda Mbire, the song was sung by the Nembire’s enemies.
Today, Kuenda Mbire is a spiritual song that can be sung to
invoke ancestral spirits, although the song, has been recorded by different
artists, for purely entertainment purposes.
Lyrics
Lead (L) Kuenda
Mbire, kuenda Mbire
Baba
iwe Moyo
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo
Lead (L) Ho-o
iye!
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo, kuenda Mbire
Lead (L) Kuenda
Mbire, Vakomana iwe
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo
Lead (L) Ho-o
iye!
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo, kuenda Mbire
Lead (L) Kuenda
Mbire, Vasikana iwe
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo
Lead (L) Ho-o
iye!
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo, kuenda Mbire
Lead (L) Ndiende
mugomo monditevera
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo
Lead (L) Ndikwire
mumuti mondipotsera
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo
Lead (L) Ndiende
mugomo monditevera
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo
Lead (L) Ndikwire
mumuti mondipotsera
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo
Lead (L) Ndipinde
muguru, mahwekwe nemhungu
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo
Lead (L) Ndipinde
mubako, mondigovha
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo, kuenda Mbire
Lead (L) Kuenda
Mbire, Baba iwe Moyo
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo
Lead (L) Ho-o
iye!
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo, kuenda Mbire
Lead (L) Ndoendepiko
kusingasvikike?
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo
Lead (L) Ho-o
iye!
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo, kuenda Mbire
Lead (L) Ndidoti
mugwenzi nemago ndure
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo, kuenda Mbire
Lead (L) Kuenda
Mbire, Baba iwe Moyo
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo
Lead (L) Ndichiti
muchuru ndarumwa nenyuchi
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo
Lead (L) Ndipinde
mudziva mahwekwe negarwe
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo, kuenda Mbire
Lead (L) Ndipinde
mugonera mondidzivirira
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo
Lead (L) Ndipinde
mumvura mondipindira
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo, kuenda Mbire
Lead (L) Nditizire
murugwezhwa ndarumwa nenyoka
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo
Lead (L) Ho-o
iye!
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo, kuenda Mbire
Lead (L) Ndozivepiko,
vakomana iwe?
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo
Lead (L) Ho-o
iye!
Backing (B) Ho-o
hehwo, kuenda Mbire
Lyrics from Aaron C. Hodza (1974)
Kuenda Mbire is one such a great very spiritual song. In the African culture there is absolutely everything that an African needs. My dad is a mbira player however I grew up taking mbira music for granted but have realized that running away from my identity is most stupid one can do.
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