Matepe

The matepe is a type of lamellophone played in North-Eastern Zimbabwe.

[1] The matepe, according to Sekuru Chigamba, has soundboards that are made of wood from mutiti (Erythrina abyssinica) or mupepe (Commiphora marlothii) trees.

[2] The matepe has a different playing style than other mbira in that it uses both thumbs and both index fingers.

Four or five independent melodies are played simultaneously in traditional matepe music.

The harmonic sequences upon which the music is based can be understood in fractal mathematical terms.