In one of the rooms, Virimai Nhedega, a traditional Zimbabwean musician, smelled a brown substance called "bute" in preparation for a performance, one of the few events he organized this year due to pandemic restrictions.

"I am very happy because it has been a while since we last met the audience," Nhedega told Xinhua News Agency. "The virtual performance we have been doing is different from the live performance."

"When you are performing on stage, observing the audience's reaction will give you energy," he added.

Nhedega, enthusiastically called Vee Mhofu, is an avid performer of mbira, a traditional Zimbabwean musical instrument made of a handheld hardwood soundboard with a series of thin metal keys affixed to the surface.

Nhedega and his six-member music group Dziva Rembira are committed to bringing traditional Zimbabwean music to the international stage.

The traditional harmony of the music group is often mixed with other modern genres, giving them authentic traditional Zimbabwean music with a modern feel.

Their performances also include traditional African drums. The synchronized rhythm of mbira and drums creates a pleasing effect for the listeners' ears.

The hosho is a traditional percussion instrument made from dried gourds filled with seeds. Its powerful rattle also adds a vibrant and rich sound to the mbira and drums.

On the stage, a group of well-dressed men performed traditional songs, and the pleasant tunes and energetic dances amazed the audience.

Quite a lot of spectators watched the game engrossedly, and some people often smell "bit" snuff.

In ancient times, "bit" played an important role in the spiritual treatment of Shona, who made up the majority of Zimbabwe's population, because it was used to connect the spiritual realm and treat various diseases.

When the sound of African drums sounded in the bar, several traditional music lovers in the audience stepped onto the floor.

Memangira-Patare, an mbira fan interviewed by Xinhua News Agency after the concert, was pleased with the recovery of the performance.

"It was difficult for us during the COVID-19 pandemic, but now that the show has resumed, we are happy, we are dancing, and we do everything we want to do, which makes everyone happy," she said.

"We are very happy, everyone here is very happy. We encourage Zimbabweans to return to our culture so that everything goes smoothly," said Shamiso Madzima, a fan of Nhedega.

Despite the return of music events, all social gatherings are still limited to 100 people to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Nhedega is also a talented actor, and he said his goal is to make traditional music attractive to young people.

Many young people in Zimbabwe believe that traditional music is ancient, even demonic.

"This is a new thing we are trying to introduce. We are trying to attract a new group of people, people of our age don't like mbira. We are introducing a new method that has not yet been adopted by mbira players," he said.

The talented musician who has played mbira since the age of 12 said that in addition to its cultural significance, mbira music also has meditation and healing properties.

"Mbira has many functions," said Nhedega, who believes that Mbira has a therapeutic effect on people who are sick.

Traditionally, music has been used to teach social values ​​and history, celebrate festivals, and help communities connect with their ancestors in the country.

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