Dumisani Maraire | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Abraham Dumisani Maraire |
| Also known as | Dumi |
| Born | 27 December 1944 Mutare, Rhodesia |
| Died | 25 November 1999 (aged 54) Zimbabwe |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer-songwriter, producer |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, mbira, marimba |
Abraham Dumisani Maraire (27 December 1944 – 25 November 1999), known to friends as "Dumi", was a Zimbabwean musician. He was a master performer of the mbira, a traditional instrument of the Shona people of Zimbabwe. He specialized in the form of mbira called nyunga nyunga, as well as the Zimbabwean marimba. He introduced Zimbabwean music to North America, initiating a flourishing of Zimbabwean music in the Pacific Northwest that continues into the 21st century.[1]
Maraire is credited for his famous 1–15 number notation used on the nyunga nyunga mbira and for notating the song "Chemutengure" on the nyunga nyunga mbira. The song "Chemutengure" is used to teach mbira learners the technique of playing the instrument.[2]