1. A percussion instrument consisting of a wooden board with metal or bamboo strips of varying lengths that are plucked with the thumbs to produce musical notes, originating in Africa.
Usage: Also called a thumb piano.; Commonly used in traditional African music, particularly in Zimbabwe and other southern African countries.

Examples

• The musician played a beautiful melody on the mbira during the cultural festival.
• The mbira's gentle, resonant tones filled the concert hall.
• She learned to play the mbira by watching her grandmother's technique.
• The mbira is an important instrument in Zimbabwean traditional music.
• He crafted his own mbira from wood and metal strips.