List of mbira players

The following is a list of players of the mbira, an African plucked lamellophone musical instrument.

Traditional Zimbabwean mbira masters

Other mbira players

Use in New Music

Finally, the kalimba also found its way into the domain of New Music where it is often used together with live-electronics. In his composition kalimBAO (2006), Sascha Lino Lemke uses a Kalimba with microtonal tunings, whereas in Karlheinz Essl's Sequitur XIV the kalimba is processed with a custom-made computer program. Both pieces were premiered by pianist Jennifer Hymer who also specializes in Kalimba performance.

The kalimba /mbira features extensively in the work of English composer and performer Tom Green both as Another Fine Day and with The Orb. The British national newspaper, The Independent, placed Green's kalimba driven album 'Life Before Land' at number three in its list of all time greatest ambient albums.

A Kalimba (or Mbira) playing the opening theme from Pink Floyd's "A Saucerful of Secrets" along with milk-bottle flute introduces the first tune "I Believe in Milko" from The Ninth Tentacle's first album for the Cellartapes record-label: Voyeuradeism.

The 2007 tribute record "Four Songs by Arthur Russell" features Swedish singer-songwriter Jens Lekman using a kalimba in his rendition of Russell's "A Little Lost". While he had initially played ukulele for the cover (as broadcast live on the radio series "No Love For Ned" 21 February 2005), Lekman thereafter frequently featured the kalimba version in his live sets for a period.

In the late 20th century instrument builder and musician Robert Grawi was inspired by playing cross rhythms on the kalimba to create another new westernized African instrument called the gravikord. It is an electric double harp made of modern materials - mostly stainless steel. The tuning is based on the "G" tuning of the kalimba but its structure is based on the West African kora. It has 24 notes evenly divided between two ranks of strings which rise in a strictly alternate right/left hand symmetry familiar to any kalimba player, so that any tunes and techniques that are learned on the kalimba can also be played on this instrument.

A few artists, including Genesis, Earth, Wind & Fire, Jo Mango, King Crimson, John Mayer, Laura Barrett, and Vampire Weekend have also incorporated the kalimba into Western pop and rock music styles. Joan Armatrading used the mbira on her album Show Some Emotion.

Maurice White, the Founder and Leader of the popular group Earth, Wind & Fire, gave immense exposure to the Kalimba in the band's music. Earth, Wind & Fire recordings such as "Kalimba Story", "Evil", "Biyo" and "Departure", all revolved around White's electrified Kalimba solos. The Kalimba also proved to be an iconic symbol of the band's reflection of African-ism.

The kalimba was used by James Horner in the soundtrack of Aliens, specifically in the cue "The Complex" (6-M-1). It was also used by Danny Elfman on the soundtrack of Edward Scissorhands, specifically during the first 9 bars of 10m1a "Mob."

On Pelbo's latest album, «Days of Transcendence», Ine Kristine Hoem is credited as playing kalimba among other instruments and vocals.

Tye Zamora of Alien Ant Farm is credited with playing the Kalimba on the 2001 ANThology Album.

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