In the densely populated streets of Chitungwiza, where urban grooves, dancehall and Zimdancehall often dominate the airwaves, the ancient, meditative sound of the mbira continues to pulse — steady, defiant and spiritual.

At the heart of that sound is Allen Forget Maera, founder and leader of Madhonza Makuru Mbira Group, a five-member ensemble established in 2011 with a mission to preserve and contemporise Zimbabwe’s most sacred instrument.

Now, 15 years after their formation, the group has just released four new singles — Madhuna Mutuna, Dumi Chirongo, Wapedza Hama, Nehanda Nyakasikana and Maminimini — songs Maera describes as “both a mirror and a warning to society.”

“We are not just playing music for entertainment,” Maera said in an interview this week. “Mbira is a voice of the ancestors. It carries instruction, correction and healing. These new songs speak directly to what is happening in our communities.”

According to Maera, the new tracks confront social decay head-on, tackling drug abuse and the erosion of family values driven by greed and material obsession.

“Drug abuse is destroying our youth,” he said. “You see young boys and girls who could be leaders tomorrow losing direction today. Madhuna Mutuna addresses that confusion — that state of being lost in intoxication, spiritually and physically.”

He added that Wapedza Hama focuses on fractured families.

“We are seeing families breaking apart because of the love of money. Brothers no longer trust each other. Parents neglect children chasing wealth. In mbira tradition, family is sacred. When the family collapses, the nation collapses.”

For Maera, mbira has always been more than melody. It is counsel.

“Mbira teaches patience, unity and respect,” he said. “When we compose, we sit down as a group and ask: what message does our community need right now?”

Since forming Madhonza Makuru Mbira Group in 2011, Maera and his four colleagues have steadily built a following in Chitungwiza and surrounding areas. They have performed at Eland Nyashanu, Damview and numerous galas, earning respect for their disciplined live performances and spiritually grounded sound.

“Those platforms gave us life,” Maera acknowledged. “Eland Nyashanu and Damview have been like home. When people gather and you hear them singing along to traditional songs, you realise mbira is not dying — it just needs support.”

The group previously released an album titled Maminimini, a project that cemented their identity within local traditional music circles. The upcoming singles, Maera said, represent growth — musically and thematically.

“We have matured. Our sound is richer, our harmonies stronger. But our foundation remains traditional,” he said.

This year, the group hopes to expand its performance calendar beyond occasional galas.

“We want to do more structured live shows,” Maera explained. “We are ready. The rehearsals are tight. The message is clear. What we need now is opportunity.”

Despite their longevity and consistent output, Maera bemoans what he describes as limited airplay for mbira music on mainstream radio.

“It is painful,” he said candidly. “Mbira is Zimbabwe’s identity. Yet you can switch on the radio and go for hours without hearing a single traditional track.”

He believes the imbalance has commercial and cultural implications.

“When young artists do not hear mbira on radio, they think it has no value. But our music is timeless. It has survived centuries without studios or streaming platforms. Imagine what it could do with proper exposure.”

Maera insists that mbira should not be treated as a museum artifact but as a living, evolving genre capable of addressing modern issues.

“We are not stuck in the past,” he said. “Listen to our new songs — they talk about drugs, broken homes, greed. These are today’s problems. Mbira can speak to them better than any genre because it connects to the spirit.”

For Maera, being based in Chitungwiza is not a limitation but a source of inspiration.

“Chitungwiza is vibrant. It has struggles, yes, but it also has talent and resilience,” he said. “Our music grows from these streets.”

He credits the group’s unity for its endurance.

 "We are five members, but we move as one. In mbira, harmony is everything. If one key is out of place, the whole sound changes. That is how we live as a group.”

As Madhonza Makuru Mbira Group prepares to release its new singles, Maera remains hopeful that audiences — and broadcasters — will tune in.

“Mbira is not just music,” he concluded. “It is our history, our conscience and our prayer. As long as we have breath, we will continue to play.”

And in the echo of metal keys vibrating over calabash gourds in Chitungwiza’s night air, that promise rings clear.