Masterful Mbira Player Kevin Nathaniel's Insight on Circular Kalimba Playing
We've been honored to have NYC-based musical artist Kevin Nathaniel join us twice as a special guest at the Kalimba Campfire. Each time, Kevin brings a wealth of insight about traditional mbira playing from Africa — the spiral layout, circle-singing, tuning systems, and playing techniques rooted in different African traditions that influenced the Hokema Kalimba we bring to the United States.
October 2025 Session: The Spiral Layout & Circle-Singing
In this session from October 1st, 2025, Kevin explores the spiral-like pattern of the kalimba layout and how it connects to circle-singing. Watch his fascinating explainers and joyous playing examples:
November 2024 Session: First Zoom Appearance
The Kalimba Campfire has been running on Social Audio since 2021, and in late 2024 we began hosting it on Zoom so more players could easily join. Kevin was one of our first Zoom guests — watch the highlight video from that session here:
About Kevin Nathaniel
A visionary musician who channels sound as a universal healing force through voice and ancient African instruments. Kevin Nathaniel resonates songs of unity and love — a celebrated composer of healing music and long-time practitioner of mbira, kalimba, circle song, shekere, dance, meditation, and yoga. A world-traveled music healer and performer, he brings a fresh, deep experience of the beauty of sound.
Kevin Nathaniel is a Scholar of the House of Yale University. Following Yale, he devoted himself to the healing music of Africa — constructing instruments, studying vocal music, African dances, and sacred healing traditions. Today he is an innovative force in shamanic music, performing at festivals and ceremonies worldwide. His recordings have developed a strong following among lovers of uplifting dance grooves and the healing arts, with healers reporting that his work has helped address trauma, sleep disorders, physical pain, depression, and anxiety.
Kevin has collaborated with Alice Walker, Oprah Winfrey, Bobby McFerrin, Miriam Makeba, Thomas Mapfumo, Niles Rodgers, and many others. He serves as musician-in-residence at the Omega Institute.
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