Mbira

Okay kiddo, do you know what a piano looks like? An mbira is a musical instrument that looks really different from a piano, but it also makes music like the piano!

The mbira comes all the way from Africa, and it's also called a thumb piano because you play it using your thumbs. The mbira is made up of a wooden board with metal keys attached to it. The keys are different sizes, and each one makes a different sound when you hit it with your thumbs.

People who play the mbira often play many notes at the same time, creating a beautiful melody. The music is usually very peaceful and calming to listen to.

One really cool thing about the mbira is that it's been around for a very long time, even before people knew how to write things down. So it has been passed down from generation to generation, like a really cool secret!