Workshop Teachers and Presenters
Duncan Allard, educator and musician, was born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Although classically trained at a young age, Duncan has traveled throughout the world, studying drumming, singing, and instrumentation most extensively in Senegal and Zimbabwe. A former student of Abdoulaye Diakate of Tambacounda, Senegal, Duncan has devoted himself to Zimbabwean drumming, mbira, and marimba for the past two years. He has lived and studied with such masters as Julia Tsitsi Chigamba and the Chigamba Family, Sekuru Joe Chari, Reason Muskwe, Never Phiri, formerly of the Zimbabwean National Dance Company, and various members of Mhembero Dance Company. He now performs and teaches with Julia Tsitsi Chigamba and the Chinyakare Ensemble, based in Oakland, California. Duncan is eager to pass on the knowledge of his teachers in an effort to bridge traditional wisdom and culture between Zimbabwe and the West.
Sean Araneda, a Bay Area native, has studied African drumming for over 12 years both at home and abroad in Western and Southern Africa. His primary focus has been West African djembe and dunun with such teachers as Mamady Keita, Famoudou Konate, Mabiba Baegne, Sory Bangoura, Karamba Dioubate, and Kwaku Daddy. For the past two years Sean has been studying exclusively with Julia Chigamba and the Chigamba family, as well as various members of the Zimbabwean National Dance Company. He now performs and teaches with Julia Chigamba and The Chinyakare Ensemble in local venues and school assemblies, through Young Audiences, passing on the knowledge, wisdom, and enthusiasm of his teachers.
Erica Azim fell in love with Shona mbira music when she first heard it at the age of 16. In 1974, Erica became one of the first Americans to study mbira in Zimbabwe, and her teachers have included many of Zimbabwe’s top mbira masters, past and present, such as Forward Kwenda, Cosmas Magaya, Mondrek Muchena, Ephat Mujuru, Newton Gwara, Irene Chigamba, Tute Chigamba, Chris Mhlanga, Luken Pasipamire, Fradreck Mujuru and Ambuya Beauler Dyoko. Erica has recorded two solo CDs, including “Mbira: Healing Music of Zimbabwe.” She currently teaches regional mbira workshop groups throughout the U.S. and internationally-attended mbira camps at her home in Berkeley, California. Erica also directs the non-profit organization MBIRA (see www.mbira.org), which makes field recordings available to mbira enthusiasts around the world and provides financial support to Zimbabwean mbira players and instrument makers.
Jaiaen Beck was introduced to Zimbabwean music by Dumisani Maraire, through an interest in Shona spirituality. Since 1990 she has worked with several Zimbabwean and North American teachers studying Shona music and healing traditions. She has taught music classes to all ages for ten years, and has provided a link for people to network and offer relief aid to rural Zimbabwe for the last four years.
Nathan Beck has studied Shona music since the early 1990’s including extensive study in Zimbabwe with Cosmas Magaya, Garikayi Tirikoti, and the Chigamba family. Nathan has been a member of Boka Marimba since 1992 and also plays with Njuzu. He has taught at Zimfest, Camp Tumbuka, as well as many Portland-area schools. Currently, he teaches marimba and mbira at Lewis & Clark College.
Nabi Camara — Master balafon player Nabi Camara is a griot from the village of Boke in Guinea. Nabi was born into a family of musicians and studied with Amadou Diabate. As a young man he diversified his musical background by traveling extensively throughout coastal West Africa. He has toured in Europe, Australia and Japan, performing with Les Ballets Africains de Guinea. He has collaborated on recordings with many internationally known African musicians including Mory Kante, Salif Keita, and Alpha Yaya Diallo. Nabi currently makes his home in Seattle, where he leads the band Lagni Sussu — loosely translated as “black and white people living together.” Nabi’s innovative balafon playing style shows a continuous blend of old and new.
Mugove Pride Chigwedere, M.D. is an Oak Foundation Research Fellow at the Harvard AIDS Institute, and a Doctor of Science Candidate in Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Harvard School of Public Health. After graduating from the University of Zimbabwe Medical School with several subject and general prizes, he did a Residency in General Medicine at Harare Central Hospital and the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals before joining Harvard in December 1999. Under the leadership of pioneer retrovirologist, Max Essex, D.V.M., PhD, Dr Chigwedere is currently working in a team trying to design a subtype specific HIV vaccine for Southern Africa. Dr Chigwedere has published original research in peer reviewed journals including the Journal of Virology, and Human Immunology. He enjoys playing the Dambatsoko Mbira.
Barbara Conable, founder of Andover Educators, uses her expertise gained in 25 years of applying Body Mapping to the teaching of the Alexander Technique. Barbara trains musicians around the world to be free, efficient, and increasingly skillful in their playing and singing. Barbara lives in Portland, Oregon where she continues to develop the theory and practice of Body Mapping. www.bodymap.org
Carl Dean makes his home in Portland, Oregon where he has been building marimbas for the past 6 years. He has taught his skills in local schools and shared his knowledge of building at previous Zimfests.
Farai Gezi is a graduate of the Kwanongoma College of African Music and has taught both African and European music for 25 years. He is currently the Director of Music at Zimbabwe Academy of Arts Education For Development. He runs a backyard marimba workshop which is very popular with visiting marimba players. He also runs the Harare Marimba Ensemble. He has many years’ experience in teaching both children and adults. Uncle Farai teaches the building and playing of marimbas, nyungwe nyungwe mbira, and helps new marimba groups take off. He also plays a wide range of musical instruments. Farai is a founding member of CHIPAWO (Children’s Performing Arts Workshop) and a life-time board member of the institute. He is a cultural activist whose motto is HONESTY.
Kite Giedraitis has been playing Shona music since 1987 and began teaching 13 years ago in Portland. He was an original member of Boka Marimba, playing with them for 3 years before traveling in Zimbabwe for a year and Ghana for 3 months. He founded Village Spirit in Portland in 1992. The following bands have evolved out of his marimba classes: Zuva, Dancing Trees, Kukuva, Flying Safari Ants, Chiremba, White Rhino, Zimba, Born on Tuesday, Duduluza, Bongozozo, Eurimba and Wood Vibrations. He founded Fools in Paradise in 2001.
Marian Grebanier has been actively involved with Shona music since 1986 when, with the help of Dumi Maraire, she got the Boka Marimba project started in Portland. Since then, she has played marimba and studied and played mbira dzavadzimu since 1993. Her mbira teachers have included Erica Azim, Cosmas Magaya, Claire Jones, Luken Pasipamire, Ephat, Fradreck and Fungai Mujuru, Tute Chigamba, Musekiwa Chingodza, Chris Berry and Nathan Beck. She is a member of Njuzu Mbira.
Jacques Johnson has studied dance since 1990 with Makeda Ebube Franchesska Berry, Yousseff Koumbassa, Ocheami, Won Idy-Paye. He has performed with Ocheami, Anzanga and Lora & Sukutai marimba groups. He has been teaching West African dance to children and adults since 1995.
Claire Jones has been involved with Zimbabwean music since 1976 when she first fell in love with the marimbas and started studying with the late Dumi Maraire. She performed for several years with Dumi and the Maraire Marimba Ensemble both in the US and in Zimbabwe, and was a founding member of the Seattle marimba groups Kutamba and Musango, as well as Mahonyera Mbira group. While living in Zimbabwe from 1985 to 1990 she played mbira with Mhuri Yekwa Muchena, and authored the book Making Music: Musical Instruments in Zimbabwe Past and Present. Claire is back from 14 months of research in Zimbabwe and is working on her doctoral dissertation at the University of Washington.
Gordon Kay comes from the agricultural village of Urbana, Illinois. A professional drumset player for over 15 years, Gordon has performed on drumset and ngoma with many of Zimbabwe’s top traditional and pop musicians and dancers, including Julia Tsi-Tsi Chigamba, Alick Macheso, and former members of Thomas Mapfumo’s Blacks Unlimited. Gordon spent the summer of 2002 in Harare, learning Mbira and Dinhe drumming from master drummers Reason Muskwe and Never Phiri.
Joe Keefe has been a musician all his life and a serious drummer since he was a teenager. His first professional gig was at age 15. In the 60s, he was a jazz drummer and taught drum set lessons. In 1968, he began to study African music at UCLA and continued studying various styles of African, Cuban and Brazilian percussion for the next 25 years. He met Dumi in 1990 and they started Dandaro Marimba Band in Santa Cruz. He has been playing marimba and hosho ever since. Joe began studying karimba (nyunga nyunga) with Dumi in 1990. He has been playing since then and teaching for the last few years. He has also studied karimba with Musekiwa Chingodza. In 2000, he started Sadza, a Santa Cruz county band that plays Zimbabwean music on drums, karimba, mbira and marimbas. He has created several arrangements for Sadza that feature mbira and karimba with marimbas.
MyLinda King played with Boka Marimba between 1989 and 1999. For the last nine years she has been teaching marimba groups in her home, in Portland schools, and at music camps. She also gives workshops to local marimba bands. She enjoys making hosho for the Zimbabwean music community and has written a book, Making Your Own Hosho.
Marilyn Kolodziejczyk has been studying Zimbabwean music since 1993. She plays marimba, mbira, ngoma and especially enjoys singing and hosho. Her teachers include Cosmas Magaya, Ambuya Beauler Dyoko, Musekiwa Chingodza, Tute Chigamba, Julia Chigamba, Mai Chi Maraire and Dr. Dumisani Maraire, along with many others, both Zimbabwean and North American. She has performed with Shumba Marimba and various Kutsinhira marimba ensembles, and currently performs with Kudana Marimba and Vakasara Mbira Group. She has often played hosho in public performances with Zimbabwean musicians Cosmas Magaya, Beauler Dyoko, and Musekiwa Chingodza. She and her family (Mark and Bud Cohen) traveled to Zimbabwe in 1997, and they have entertained many Zimbabwean guests at their home in Eugene, Oregon. Marilyn also serves as Zimbabwe Liaison for the Kutsinhira Cultural Arts Center in Eugene.
Natalie Jones Kreutzer is an associate professor of music education at the University of Idaho (in Moscow) for six years. She has taught in public schools for 13 years (both elementary and secondary) in Nebraska, Indiana, and Kansas. In 1992 she went to Zimbabwe to do research on children’s music acquisition, which led to her dissertation in and subsequent articles on childhood musical development. For three years she taught at the University of Zimbabwe, pioneering and designing a degree in music education. (Zimfest teachers Sheasby Matiure and Tendekai Kuture were a part of this program.) She returned to the states in 1996.
Tendekai Kuture is a music lecturer at Mutare Teacher’s College as well as a visiting music lecturer at Africa University in Mutare. He is currently studying at the University of Idaho for a Masters in Music. Tendekai has been teaching mbira, marimba, singing, dancing, drumming and hosho playing for 27 years.
Russ Landers loves singing, playing mbira, drums and chipendani (mouth bow), telling stories and working for human liberation. On extended stays in Zimbabwe since 1983, he’s been guided and inspired by many musicians beginning with Ephat Mujuru, Mondrek Muchena and Tute and Irene Chigamba. In the U.S., Russ’s teaching and performance of mbira and chipendani have been enjoyed from coast to coast. He has played in the groups Mutupo, Tatenda, Zawadi, and Chinyakare. Currently, Russ is sharing Zimbabwean music with young people, parents and teachers in the Oakland Public Schools.
Joel Laviolette II has studied mbira since 1995, including two years in Zimbabwe where he primarily studied with Newton Gwara (kore-kore style) and Chaka Chawasarira (matepe). He has been playing the guitar for 15 years, which he also studied with Newton Gwara. He has also been making field recordings of numerous types of mbira as well as other instruments such as nyanga, and founded Mhumhi Records. Joel has taught music for over 11 years and has performed with many groups, including Wagogo, Jaka, Common Thread and Nheravauya Mbira Group.
Joel Lindstrom has been playing marimba and nyunga-nyunga since 1991. In 1993, he started playing mbira dzavadzimu. He has studied with Maggie Donahue, Don Addison, and Cosmas Magaya, among other teachers. Joel has been teaching at the Kutsinhira Center in Eugene, Oregon, since 1994. He is particularly interested in teaching about the interrelationship of kutsinhira and kushaura and relating all parts to the beat. He is a member of the marimba group Nyaradzi, and the mbira group Vakasara.
Cosmas Magaya is an internationally recognized mbira player and teacher and is the leader of the ensemble Mhuri yekwa Magaya. He has been an avid student and player of mbira dzavadzimu from the time he was eight, when he ’pinched’ his cousin’s instrument for surreptitious study. Cosmas is a master of the instrument, having studied with many great players. He has performed with the renowned Mhuri yekwa Rwizi mbira group for over 25 years, participating with them in concert tours of Europe and the U.S. He was instrumental in the writing of Paul Berliner’s The Soul of Mbira in the 1970s, and continues to work closely with Dr. Berliner as a consultant on Zimbabwean music. Cosmas experienced both sides of Christian and Traditional life as he grew up. His parents were married in the Roman Catholic Church, and his father was a renowned n’anga, or traditional healer, as well as a cultural expert whose advice was sought by people from all walks of life.
Peter Masundire grew up in Zimbabwe, lived in London, England for 16 years, and is now settled in Seattle, Washington, where he has been giving individual tutorials in the Shona language since 1998. His lessons are based on the Zezuru dialect of Shona. Peter is very active in the Seattle Zimbabwean community where he works to promote Zimbabwean culture and music; he recently co-produced Oliver Mtukudzi’s concerts in Seattle and Portland during his Vhunze Moto tour. Peter has performed with Sukutai Marimba and Dance Ensemble for the last 4 years. He has played an advisory role to several Zimfests, especially on issues relating to immigration and Zimbabwean culture and has been a Shona language instructor at Zimfest for the last 4 years. He recently collaborated with the Seattle Art Museum on its landmark special exhibition, “Art from Africa: Long Steps Never Broke a Back.”
Paul Mataruse is from Zimbabwe, but he has been living and studying in North America for the past seven years. Paul’s family lives in South Africa, but is originally from Bikita, in the south eastern province of Masvingo. Paul has been playing marimba for 15 years and this is his seventh appearance at Zimfest. He has taught in schools in and around the Mashonaland West Province of Zimbabwe as well as in primary schools in Harare. Currently, he is living and working in San Diego.
Sheasby Matiure is currently a lecturer in music education at the University of Zimbabwe. He previously taught for some years at Seke Teacher Training College, just outside Harare. He has also acted as manager and artistic director of the Zimbabwe National Dance Company. In 1999, Sheasby was an artist in residence with the International Vocal Ensemble at Indiana University, where he subsequently graduated with an MA in Ethnomusicology. Sheasby is a highly respected musician, adept at playing mbira, ngoma, hosho, and marimba, and at teaching choral singing.
Dr. Patrick Matsikenyiri of Africa University in Mutare is a native of Zimbabwe and a prominent musician in The United Methodist Church of Zimbabwe. He was educated at Hartzell High School (Zimbabwe) and holds Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Music Education from Shenandoah University (U.S.A.) He received an Honorary Doctorate from Adrian College in Michigan, U.S.A. in 1999. He has a distinguished career in education in Zimbabwe as a Headmaster, teacher, and musician. He is well known for his publications of African church music and his work with United Methodists, the All Africa Conference of Churches, and the World Council of Churches. Dr. Matsikenyiri has led worship services and workshops on African music in Africa, Central Europe, Scandinavia, England, Australia, Canada and the United States and has made eight previous recordings and several publications. He is deeply committed to making African music and culture a part of African worship services and an integral part of Christian worship worldwide.
Alport Mhlanga, a composer, ethnomusicologist, educator and marimba maker, has performed and taught marimba since 1964. He is one of the most talented marimba teachers around. He was the mainstay at Kwanongoma College of Music for many years. His current position is at Maru A Pula School in Botswana, where he is a Director of the Marimba and Musical Outreach program. He is married and has two musical children, a girl and a boy.
Among people Alport inspired through his teaching are Dr. Dumisani Maraire (late), Sheasby Matiure, Denishad Mugochi, Themba Tana, Cephas Tshuma, Paddle Ndlovu, Burma Tshuma, Tsitsi Chikanya, Soft Sibanda, Noel Goremusandu (late), Moses Chugumira (late), Never Sibanda, Michael Sibanda, Donaldson Molema, Dorothy Mthimkhulu and Dr. Mickey Nhemarundwe, just to name a few.
Alport’s music has been captured on three marimba CDs entitled “Vibrant Zimbabwe,” “Kwanomoto,” and “Tears of Joy.” “Tears of Joy” won an award under the BOMA2002- (Botswana Music Awards 2002) as the best marimba group. It has recently been nominated for an award under SAMA (South African Music Awards) 2003, to be held at the Sun City in South Africa. His music travels have taken him to Brazil, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Sweden, Canada and the USA.
Dumisani Mhlanga follows in the footsteps of his parents, Alport and Margaret Mhlanga. Dumisani studied under his parents since 1989 and has never ceased to play on the marimba. He is one of the founding members of the Map Marimba Band from Gaborone, Botswana. His talents on the marimba now include composition, teaching, repairs, and the general management of the band. He is one of the finest marimba players in Botswana. He plays soprano, tenor, baritone, and bass for all the songs that he has ever learned. His dexterity and improvisational skills are staggering. Dumi’s talents are captured on the Map Marimba CD, Tears of Joy. He has been a fine ambassador of marimba to Brazil, South Africa, Canada, and the USA. He currently teaches French at Matsiloje Junior Secondary School in Botswana and coaches basketball.
Michel and Rosa operate Limitless Sky Records in Seattle.
Maria Minnaar grew up in Zimbabwe where her love of its music and culture was nurtured by her father, an ethnomusicologist who was also director of Kwanongoma College in the 1970s. Playing marimbas since age 14, Maria currently teaches a community band in Colony, Texas. She has produced two marimba music CDs with her previous youth bands from Brenham, TX and Groveton,TX, as well as a marimba instruction book. After her father’s death in 1993 she began manufacturing marimba instruments in the Chopi style, in order to continue the work which her father had begun. Having grown up as a “missionary kid” with a lot of exposure to African church music, she loves to teach singing as well as marimbas.
Ilana Moon has been studying and performing African dance over 15 years. Her principal Zimbabwean dance teachers have been Irene and Julia Chigamba, and more recently, Charles Mzite. Ilana has performed Zimbabwean dances for 4 years with Amani Marimba band of Hornby Island and has been teaching adult and children’s dance classes for 5 years. She is also knowledgeable in gumboot dancing and in several West African styles.
Fradreck Mujuru — Zimbabwean Fradreck Mujuru is a talented mbira player, mbira maker, and mbira teacher. Fradreck is descended from a long line of mbira players and mbira makers in the Mujuru family (including his grandfather Muchatera and cousin Ephat), and is a shining talent in his own right. Fradreck lives in Harare and Dewedzo, Zimbabwe, and has performed in Zimbabwe, Europe, South Africa and the U.S.
Ona — Performing, teaching and exploring the rich depths of Shona music have been a large part of Fiona Connon’s life now for ten years. She is honored to have helped initiate the first marimba band in Canada — Marimba Muzuva. Hosho and dance are her passions but Ona also composes for marimba, and plays mbira and chipendani. She has enjoyed performing with Tute and Irene Chigamba, Beauler Dyoko, Cosmas Magaya, Dumisani Maraire and has been a member of world beat improv group Spirit Gate, mbira quartet Choto, and upbeat dance band Zimfusion! Ona leads the all women ensemble Olalia and currently is working on a solo CD.
Kelly Takunda Orphan is a native to the San Francisco Bay Area. As a vocalist, percussionist and songwriter, she has performed both here and abroad with various African/World Music groups, such as Babatunde Olatunji and African Rain, Keith Terry & Crosspulse, Mutama, Mhembero Dance Company, and the University of Zimbabwe Choir. After her year abroad studying at the University of Zimbabwe (1994), Kelly served as Co-Director of San Jose State University’s World Music Choir (1995–99), and is a regular guest musician/educator at San Fransisco State. Kelly is currently recording her second album, “Spirit Calling,” to be released this summer, 2003.
Sheree Seretse began studying with Dumisani Maraire in 1970. She started performing with him in 1971 and teaching with him in 1973. She has been teaching at the Langston Hughes Cultural Arts Center in Seattle since 1978, where her marimba class developed into a professional group later known as Sukutai Marimba Ensemble. Currently she performs with Anzanga, which she founded in 1986. Sheree teaches classes on marimba, mbira, ngoma, dance, and African children’s games. She lectures on Shona music at Langston Hughes and around the country.
Peter Swing has been teaching marimba for ten years. He has studied with Dumi, Mai Chi, Ephat Mujuru, and Chris Berry as well as Tute & Irene Chigamba, Savannah Jammin’, Cosmas Magaya, Beauler Dyoko, and Thomas Mapfumo. Peter has played in Boka Marimba, Jaka and directed the group Tatenda for many years. He’s also taught at Camp Tumbuka for three years.
Wanda Walker has taught marimba at the Kutsinhira Cultural Arts Center in Eugene, Oregon for several years. She has studied marimba with Maggie Donahue and Gary Goldwater, studied mbira with Cosmas Magaya, Musekiwa Chingodza and Stephen Golovnin, and studied Shona-style singing with Jennifer Kyker, Musekiwa Chingodza and Ambuya Beauler Dyoko, among others. Wanda has performed with Jenaguru for over six years, and with Zambuko for four years. She also teaches private workshops in Shona and Ndebele singing.
Loveness Wesa has been singing, dancing and acting with the Amakhosi Theatre in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe for the past 13 years. She has taught dance and singing in schools in Zimbabwe. She will be sharing her knowledge and experience of Ndebele song and dance at the festival.
Ted Wright has taught gumboot dancing and marimba since 1996, and mbira since 1995. His teachers have included Michael Breez, Farai Gezi, Chris Berry, Cosmas Magaya, Forward Kwenda, Newton Gwara, Tute, Irene, Julia and Garadziva Chigamba and many others. He performed with Marimba Muzuva for ten years, and has also performed with world beat improv ensemble Spirit Gate, mbira quartet Choto, and Zimbabwean roots dance band Zimfusion. This part-time wig maker also plays the chipendani.
Copyright © 1995–2003 Zimbabwean Music Festival Credits
