By Margaret Kamba 

Cde Hailuu Malianga Netsianwa says his failure to identify what the Zimbabwean culture truly is has prompted him to continually research on it.

Having moved to Dublin, Ireland at the age of 13 when Zimbabwe had the illegal sanctions imposed on it, he was faced with so many difficulties that made him want to identify with who he was, and that being a Zimbabwean.

He could not quite understand what this was hence his interest to search beyond the superficial.

"The nasty racial experiences that I faced when I was in Ireland made me stand up for the rights of the Africans from the age of 16. It was in all this that I discovered that there seemed to be nothing beyond the sadza and sungura that I could share as other countries would exhibit their culture in different ways among them dance and cuisine amongst other things," he said.

"This forced me to research on what we are as a people beyond the superficial. A visit from my grandfather almost put an end to the numerous questions that I had. 

"He would play the Mbira instrument which he had come with as answers to all my questions almost giving me a spiritual transfer."

On his return, he came up with the idea to set up a project that he felt would teach others who like him.

"Café Mbira is a space where people learn about their culture through music. We teach instrument making and playing. Apart from the marimba, we focus mostly on the Mbira with two types, the nyunga-nyunga and the nhare. The nyunga-nyunga is what we mostly make especially as it is used in schools," Malianga said.

"Some of our challenges are that this is self funded and it can get tough. The wrong perception about these instruments does not make things any easier which is why my colleagues James and Slyvester Mujuru have taken it upon ourselves to try and decolonise the minds of our people.

"James and Slyvester are sons to Ephat Mujuru who took the Mbira to the Ivy-League universities along with Chiwoniso Maraire's father.

"We have created a group called Lithiumites and have played in different places in Harare and Manicaland."

Speaking about the where they source their materials, he said the wood from the mubvamaropa and mukwa trees along with the steel blades are acquired from Mbare.

He added that he has also partnered with a Chinhoyi University graduate Tracey Kache and Matthias Bangure to do an animated cartoon series for the children to instill the cultural values of their beautiful Zimbabwe.