Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 March 2004
This article describes inshimi – a musical storytelling practice of the Bemba people in Zambia. It gives a general perspective on the whole practice and some details on the ‘MUSIC’ as contained in the practice. The article further encourages the idea that inshimi represents a nucleus of the ‘MUSIC’ practices of the Bemba people and therefore plays a vital role in the transmission of musical arts practices. Embedded in musical storytelling are educational principles that could and should guide musical arts education in Africa and the rest of the world.