Hosho (instrument)

:"For the Japanese aircraft carrier see Japanese aircraft carrier Hōshō."

The hosho are Zimbabwean musical instruments consisting of a pair of Maranka gourds with seeds. Typically we put hota ("Canna indica") seeds inside them. [cite web |url=http://dandemutande.org/Magazine/zimmusic.html#Hosho |title=Hosho |accessdate=2008-02-17 |last=Novitski |first=Paul |year= 2000 |work=Dandemutande Magazine ] The hosho are used to accompany Shona music, especially mbira music. They make a rattling sound that western ears may be unaccustomed to hearing. However, this accompaniment is essential when playing mbira and or Marimba music. So, essential in fact, that extra vibrating elements, such as mirlitons (buzzing membranes made from spider webs are attached to the resonating tubes of Marimbas) and machachara (miniature Hosho made from seashells or bottle caps are attached to the Mbira and its Deze). [cite web |url=http://www.bmichaelwilliams.com/PNGettingStartedMbira.pdf |title=Machachara|accessdate=2008-08-18 |last=Williams |first=Michael |year= 1997 |work=Percussive Notes Magazine ] Mbiras and Marimbas from Africa; and even other instruments, such as drums will have some kind of rattles associated with their use.

From a western perspective the hosho are seen as accompanying instruments to Mbira, when in actuality they are seen as the lead instruments by the mbira players. See a typical use of the hosho by selecting the link at the end of this paragraph, as played together with the mbira at Zimfest 2008, by Musekiwa Chingodza. Zimfest is the premier event promoting the playing of mbira and Marimba in the U.S. [http://www.youtube.com/v/4uKMli4Nn0A&hl=en&fs=1]

A smaller version of the hosho is made of a wild orange called a damba, tied together with sticks and filled with hota seeds or pebbles.

Other related percussion instruments from Zimbabwe include the magavhu (leg rattle) and ngoma (drum).

References

*cite book|title=The Soul of Mbira: Music and Traditions of the Shona People of Zimbabwe|author=Berliner, Paul|publisher=University of California Press|year=1981|id=ISBN 0-520-04268-9
*cite book|title=Learning Mbira: A Beginning . . .|author=Williams, Michael B.|publisher=HoneyRock|year=2001|id=ISBN 0-963-406-043

ee also

*Mbira
*Shona music
*Music of Africa
*Music of Zimbabwe
*Zimbabwe