Ronald Nyandoro

As a child growing up in the countryside of Mhondoro Province, Zimbabwe, Ronald had the privilege of learning the Shona people's traditions and culture first hand, as there were always traditional music and spiritual activities within the community. Mbira is both the instrument and the music played upon it to invoke the spirits of the ancestors so they may come down to be present among the living and provide a medium for communication between the living and God.

From an early age Ronald was drawn to the mbira. Forbidden to touch it lest he damage it, Ronald would "steal" the mbira when elders were away and practice in solitude. When discovered by them, rather than punishing him, they encouraged him to learn the age-old songs and melodies. At first Ronald was frightened to be present at the ceremonies, but his elders reassured him that the spirits and spirit mediums were loving and kind. Soon Ronald was participating in ceremonies which communicate with the spirits.

Leaving rural Mhondoro Province, Ronald went to Harare for high school. This was followed by an agricultural diploma program at Chibero College and a B.Sc, Honours, in agriculture at the University of Zimbabwe.

In 2009, Ronald embarked on a journey to Canada looking for opportunities for further studies and jobs in agriculture. In Canada he revisited his mbira music that he had not played for a very long time. Teaming up with fellow Zimbabwean Chaka Zinyemba, they played regularly on the grounds of the University of Alberta campus. Together they founded the Mbira Renaissance band in Edmonton, performing at various events around the province of Alberta.

Ronald is exploring the music further under the MbiraSpeaks ideology, playing original compositions as well as traditional Shona mbira. As Ronald says, "The mbira writes the music that satisfies our souls as the Shona people."