The mbira has been has been part of the sub-Saharan African culture for 800 years. Sometimes played as a solo instrument, it is more often used to accompany other musicians, singers and dancers. The African mbira can very widely in style and name as each tribe will create a distinctive version using locally available materials. The smallest is a 6-note instrument made by the Kalahari Bushmen while the most sophisticated 33-note version is found in Zimbabwe. The name mbira is used in Zimbabwe and is known throughout much of Africa, but other names are used like kalimba in Kenya, ikembe in Rhuanda, and the name likembe in the Congo, are few other less common names are sanza, sansa, marimba, marimbula. In Europe and the western world the instrument is known more by the generic names of finger harp, gourd piano, and thumb piano. The thumb piano name was most likely derived because the instrument is played by plucking the tines or tongues with one’s thumbs to sound individual notes. Hugh Tracey, an Englisman, became fascinated with African music during his travels to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in the 1920s. In the early 1960’s he received a registered trade mark for a version of the mbira call the Kalimba, which translates to little music. The diatonic instrument soon became popular around the world. The mbira is well suited for playing harmonies in western music but it’s wide acceptance may be due to the simple design and relative ease by one can learn to play the instrument.