The mbira dzavadzimu is a sacred instrument of the Shona people of Zimbabwe. It consists of 22 to 28 metal keys (tines) mounted on a wooden soundboard (warped), which is often placed inside a large dried gourd (deze) to amplify the sound. Bottle caps or shells are often attached to the board or the gourd to create a buzzing sound, which is an essential aesthetic component of the music. The mbira is played by plucking the keys with the thumbs and the right index finger. In Shona culture, mbira music is a bridge to the spirit world; it is played at ceremonies called 'bira' to attract ancestral spirits and ask for guidance or rain. The music is cyclical and polyphonic, often creating an 'illusion' of more than one person playing. Unlike the popularized 'kalimba,' which uses a Western scale, traditional mbira tunings vary by village and family, reflecting a deep oral tradition.