Google has shared a behind-the-scenes video of how a team comprising engineers, artists, and others visited Zimbabwe to research and work on a Mbira Google Doodle.
If you visited the Google homepage today (21 May 2020) then you definitely encountered the Mbira Doodle. It’s a celebration of the Mbira instrument during Zimbabwe’s Culture Week begins.
The Doodle plays versions of popular Mbira songs including Nhemamusasa and Chemutengure as it tells the story of a young girl who learns to play it.
As the story is told, you participate by trying your hand at playing the mbira in a mini-game of sorts. Using your mouse, you attempt to play the mbira instrument as the whole song plays. You’re scored on how many keys you press in sync.
Google Doodles are a temporary change of the Google homepage created to celebrate something – a person, holiday, culture, or phenomenon.
If a video does not show below, please click on this link to play it.
Popular Zimbabwean musicians that have used the Mbira instrument richly in their music include Thomas Mapfumo, Chiwoniso Maraire, Stella Chiweshe, Jah Prayzah, and Hope Masike.