Festival Notes
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Community Events
The Zimbabwean Music Festival hopes to foster an appreciation not only of Zimbabwean music, but also of Zimbabwean people — their language, culture and history. In addition, we aim to provide information about the current crises in Zimbabwe and about ways in which we can help out, both individually and as a community. We also want to provide forums of general interest.
To this end, several classes are offered “by donation” (with the suggested donation being $5). By creating the donation system, we hope to make these offerings available to more people. Most of these classes still have size limits so they will fill on a first-come first-served basis. You cannot pre-register for these classes.
For a full description, click the links below or see the Workshop Descriptions area.
The Mbira Orchestra of Garikayi Tirikoti
Ndebele Language and Culture
Classification of Zimbabwean Vernacular Music
Storytelling
The Bira Ceremony
Shona Language and Culture
The Science of Marimbas
The Changing Face of Rural Zimbabwe
Aids Orphans in Zimbabwe
Shona Spirituality
Children’s Programming and Notes to Parents
There are classes specifically for children scattered throughout the festival (see page 6). CHILDREN UNDER 8 MUST HAVE AN ADULT ACCOMPANYING THEM FOR ANY WORKSHOP. If the adult is only there to supervise the child and is not himself or herself taking the class, then only the child will be charged the class fee.
Children over age 8 are welcome to register for adult workshops provided they meet the prerequisites for the class. Please consider the child’s attention span and comfort level.
There will be no formal childcare facilities at the festival. If you choose to bring a child to a workshop or other event, please understand that it is your responsibility, out of respect for the teachers and other participants, to leave with that child if his or her needs are causing a distraction. A young child accompanying you in a workshop in which you are a participant must be prepared to sit quietly, and may not participate in the class.
RhythmWalk for Zimbabwe
A documentary about Shona music and Loren Mach’s RhythmWalk for Zimbabwe will include filming at Zimfest this year. Loren is hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada to raise awareness of Shona music and culture and support for the following non-profit organizations in Zimbabwe: Ancient Ways/Nhimbe for Progress, Shungu DzeVana Trust, and Village Health Project. 100% of funds raised through the project’s fiscal sponsor, the Boulder County AIDS Project, will be hand delivered to Zimbabwe to help fight poverty, starvation and AIDS. To find out more, visit www.zimwalk.org.
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VOLUNTEER: Help Make Zimfest 2004 a Success!
Each year the Zimbabwean Music Festival is run entirely by volunteers. We need tons of volunteers to help before, during and after the Festival to make it happen. It’s a great way to get to know others in the music community and the feel-good-by-doing-good benefit is a free bonus!
We need volunteers to move instruments, staff the registration desk, take concert tickets, set up stage equipment, provide concert security, clean up after concerts, help in workshops, decorate, be a festival “go-fer,” set up before the festival on Thursday, and tear down after the festival Monday morning.
We are asking that each participant donate two hours of time during the festival in order to make the festival happen. Please look over the list of volunteer opportunities on the Registration Form and choose the area(s) you are interested in. Someone (another volunteer!) will contact you. If you have any questions regarding volunteer opportunities, please e-mail Hyla Dickson (hyla@zimfest.org). We will do our best to make your volunteer experience fun and rewarding, but we cannot offer trades for your time.
Village Meeting and
Zimbabwean Guest Forum
Sunday, 12:15 pm – 1:30 pm
We hope everyone can attend the village forum — it will be held in the amphitheatre (outdoors) over lunch. Bring your ideas about this festival, about future Zimfests, and about the community as a whole. Listen to Zimbabwean guests reflect on their experiences. All are welcome! There is already an active group planning Zimfest 2005 for Bellingham, Washington! However, it is not too early for communities to be thinking about hosting Zimfest for 2006. We have found several areas of planning that benefit from having more than one year’s lead-time (e.g. grant applications and musician sponsorships).
Zimfest 2004 Organizers
This year’s Portland Zimfest committee members are (below, from left) Kirsten Comandich, Mark Hoskins, Mark Hitchcox, Hyla Dickson, Kirsten Stade, and Doug Ferguson.
We are extremely thankful for help from: Graham Burdekin (Registration Guide layout), Larry Israel (Zimfest website), Ross Thompson (database and registration), Chris Steele (concert sound and equipment) and many others including the 2003 organizing committee who have helped us greatly with information and advice.
Copyright © 1995–2004 Zimbabwean Music Festival Credits
