Ever played Guitar Hero with a thousand-year-old African instrument? That’s basically what the Mbira Google Doodle offers. Released on May 21, 2020, to celebrate the beginning of Zimbabwe’s Culture Week, this interactive Doodle lets you learn and play Zimbabwe’s national instrument while following the heartwarming story of a young girl’s musical journey.
The mbira (sometimes called a “thumb piano,” though Zimbabweans prefer the traditional name) is a handheld instrument that’s been central to Shona culture for over a millennium. It consists of a hardwood soundboard called a gwariva with thin metal keys attached, which you pluck with your thumbs and forefinger. A large hollow gourd called a deze amplifies the sound, and here’s the cool part — bottle caps or beads are often attached to create that signature buzzing, shimmering tone that makes mbira music so distinctive. The keys were originally smelted directly from iron ore, though modern makers use recycled steel from bed springs, bicycle spokes, and car seat springs.
What makes this Doodle special is how deeply the Google team committed to authenticity. They actually traveled to Zimbabwe and worked closely with the Shona people, mbira experts, and cultural consultants throughout development. Musician Albert Chimedza, founder of The Mbira Centre, contributed to the project and noted that anyone who spends more than five minutes with Zimbabwean mbira can never forget the sound — describing it as a cross between water and air.
The game tells the story of a girl who first encounters the mbira as a child when she stops to watch an elderly man playing. He notices her fascination and lets her touch the instrument. In the second chapter, a craftsman builds her a tiny mbira of her own (she helps by collecting bottle caps for the buzzers). By the final chapter, she’s grown up and performs with a full band to a large crowd — then hands the instrument down to a young boy, completing the cycle that’s preserved mbira traditions for generations. The four levels teach you traditional and modern songs: Nhemamusasa, Bangiza, Taireva, and Chemutengure.
The gameplay follows that familiar rhythm-game format where notes scroll down and you hit them at the right moment. After completing all four levels, you unlock free play mode to create your own compositions. The Doodle was engineered by South African Doodler Jonathan Shneier, with art by Helene Leroux, game design by Lisa Takehana, and production by Colin Duffy.
How To Play Mbira Google Doodle
- Click the play button on the Doodle’s homepage to begin the interactive story and tutorial
- Hover your mouse over the correct metal key when notes scroll down to the target zone, similar to Guitar Hero
- Progress through four chapters, each teaching you a different traditional or modern Zimbabwean song
- After completing all levels, access free play mode to experiment and create your own mbira melodies
- Use the replay option to revisit any chapter you’d like to practice, or click individual keys to explore the instrument’s range
