Garikayi is a Zimbabwean mbira maker, a woodcarver, carpenter and metal worker. He is also a highly inventive and creative player of the mbira, the traditional "thumb piano" of the Shona people. Playing both acoustic and electrified mbira--using a pick-up--Garikayi takes the traditions of the past and evolves them through his own life experience. He is a unique composer, a dreamer of music who sings sweetly in the voices of his ancestors.

The compositions of Garikayi are heard weekly in the village near Harare where he lives and plays the mbira dances for the community. These mbiras last through the night, dance parties of traditional music for the youth. Fables and stories of timeless truth are celebrated through the mbira, played so their wisdom is easily absorbed by the next generation. Garikayi's compositions keep these principles alive and relevant for people today. In 2003, he released his international debut recording, Maidei (Limitless Sky). It is a powerful presentation of this highly spiritual music's universal appeal.

Garikayi is a natural teacher, enlightening with his continuous music. He spends his days carving mbira, tuning them, playing and rehearsing, or sanding and polishing the keys to perfection. To be in his presence is to be drawn into the realm of mbira. You may feel yourself being soaked in the sounds of this ancient instrument, the melodies falling from the keys like raindrops. Your mind is easily captured and enchanted by the music, rising and falling rhythms, harmony is achieved. Meanwhile the words reinforce your inner knowledge with wisdom song. Garikayi has created an mbira orchestra of 8 performers, Madzitateguru Edu, playing all the different traditional tunings of mbira together with ones of his own design. In his over 30 years of experience, he has only begun to tap his creative potential.

C 2002 Limitless Sky Records