The amazing dancer, singer, musician (and Nhemamusasa North teacher) Kurai Blessing Mubaiwa is a Zimbabwean refugee and permanent resident of Canada. Kurai’s eight year old daughter still lives in Zimbabwe. On February 2, 2008, MaiNyasha (Nyasha’s mom) tragically died at age 28 of Malaria. Nyasha is now being taken care of by her Grandmother who is also caring for her baby sister and three other cousins by herself. Kurai would like to bring Nyasha to Canada and be reunited with his daughter after almost 6 years. This benefit concert will be held to help raise much needed funds for Nyasha’s immigration to Canada.
Performance: Benefit Concert for Nyasha Mubaiwa
Date/Time: Saturday March 29, 2008 2pm - 5pm
Admission: Suggested donation of $10 per person
Location: Grandview Calvary Baptist Church, 1803 East 1st Avenue Vancouver, British Columbia V5N 1B2 (1 block east of Commercial Drive at Salisbury and 1st)
Performers:
Tambai Marimba (Kids Marimba Group)
Kunaka (Kids Marimba Group)
Myanda African Dance Troupe
Kutapira
Kurai Mubaiwa with Chanazukuru
For more information about this benefit, or to make a donation, please contact Amora.
MyLinda King has been teaching marimba in the Portland, Oregon area for the last 12 years. She was a founding member of Boka Marimba, and sells some of the best hosho you will find anywhere in the western hemisphere. MyLinda is great with students at all levels, and especially good with younger students.
Her 12th Annual Marimba Student Recital will be Saturday April 21, 2007 at Evangel Baptist. Admission is free, any donations will be used to help start a marimba program at Buckman Elementary School.
Recitals are a great place to find new members for your band. You get a chance to listen to each band, and an opportunity to meet the players.
I went to my first Zimfest in 1995. The Friday night performances were held at the Nippon Kan Theater in Chinatown. It was a stormy night and I was exhausted from the drive from Portland. I checked-in for the festival and learned that my housing reservation for the festival had been lost and I had no place to stay. I was in a foul mood. I was about ready to turn around and go back to Portland, when I heard this band being introduced. They took the stage and began their first song. They played fast, furious, and amazingly tight. They were Seattle’s Anzanga Marimba, and they were awesome. After that, I decided to stick around for the rest of the festival - and I’m glad I did.
I’ve seen Anzanga play many times now, and each performance is better than the previous. I’ve seen Sheree Seretse (Anzanga’s musical director) play so fast and furious that the glasses fell right off of her face. Put this band on your “must see” list!
Bukatiende is from Anzanga’s 1994 release Vakati Kurudzira (Those who have inspired us). Bukatiende means “Wake up, let’s go!”, and is a traditional mbira piece from Zimbabwe. This piece is played early in the morning to prepare everyone for the arrival of the spirits. Enjoy!
Note: This release is currently available on audio cassette only.
It seems appropriate for my first post to be about the first marimba band I ever heard. Back in 1992 I went to a political rally at Montgomery Park in Portland Oregon. I walked in the front entrance and I heard this music that sounded like steel drum music - but warmer, happier, and with more energy. I followed the music up to the second floor like a hound dog hot on the trail and there was this band playing big wooden marimbas. The band was Balafon (from Corvallis, OR), and I was an instant fan. I danced, I clapped, and I didn’t want that show to ever end. This single performance changed my musical life.
Frelimo is a track from their second (and last) disc Harare to Kisingani, which was released well after I first saw them. I find this song haunting, much in part to the clarinet (which sounds much better with marimbas than I would have ever thought). Enjoy!
