Afternoon Concert and Marketplace location
August 7–8–9–10, 2025
Central Washington University, Ellensburg
The Zimbabwean Music Festival presents an exciting concert series featuring performing artists from Zimbabwe, North America and elsewhere around the world.
- Free Concerts! — all afternoon concerts and the Thursday evening event are free
- Suggested evening concert donation onsite $22 adults/$12 children
- Concert schedules are subject to change
- See Performers for further details
Thursday, August 7 |
|
|---|---|
Opening Ceremony and Free Concert, Outdoor Stage on SURC NE Lawn |
|
| 7:30 – 8:00 PM | Opening Ceremony |
| 8:15 – 9:15 PM | Musha — Bryant School (Spokane, WA) evening debut |
Friday, August 8 |
|
Afternoon Concert (Free), Outdoor Stage on SURC NE Lawn |
|
| Noon – 1:00 | Zuva — Vibrant Santa Fe mixed ensemble |
| 1:10 – 2:00 | Musical Bow-nanza — Ted Wright/chipendani and Anesu Ndoro/chizambe |
| 2:10 – 3:00 | Chiedza — Kutsinhira advanced marimba class |
| 3:10 – 4:00 | Manzwi — Seattle vocal group |
| 4:10 – 5:00 | Mhodzi + Tanaka — high energy music from teens at Kutandara Studio |
Evening Concert (By Donation), SURC Ballroom |
|
| 7:30 – 8:20 | Jeff Brahe Band — Featuring mixed instrumentation and fine musicianship |
| 8:30 – 9:20 | Mahonyera Mbira Ensemble — Mbira in Seattle since 1991 |
| 9:30 – 10:20 | Chimurenga-style Mbira Combo — Bezil Makombe/mbira, Gilbert Zvamaida/guitar and Mike Sibanda/marimba |
| 10:30 – 11:20 | Kutandara Marimba — Exuberant, high-energy polyrhythms |
Saturday, August 9 |
|
Afternoon Concert (Free), Outdoor Stage on SURC NE Lawn |
|
| Noon – 1:00 | Turuka — Multi-instrumental, multi-locale group debuting at Zimfest |
| 1:10 – 2:00 | Chitatu Marimba Class — Long-time Seattle students |
| 2:10 – 3:00 | Vawachi — Veterans of (Dumi and) Maraire Marimba Ensemble and more |
| 3:10 – 4:00 | SUPA! — Colorado-based marimba band presenting diverse styles |
| 4:10 – 5:00 | Kondo reNzou — Expansion of the UW Marimba Club to a collection of marimba stars |
Evening Concert (By Donation), SURC Ballroom |
|
| 7:30 – 8:20 | Kudana Marimba — Eugene’s forever band continues to grow |
| 8:30 – 9:20 | Anzanga Marimba Ensemble — Seattle’s longest-lived marimba group |
| 9:30 – 10:00 | Gumboot Special and African Queen — Lucky Moyo and Tsungai Tsikirai |
| 10:20 – 11:10 | ZiMBiRA — 10-piece Afrojam band steeped in traditional Zimbabwean music |
Sunday, August 10 |
|
Afternoon Concert (Free), Outdoor Stage on SURC NE Lawn |
|
| Noon – 1:00 | Zambuko African-American Marimba Ensemble — Brought to you from Seattle |
| 1:10 – 2:00 | Jeff Brahe & Students — Marimba students from Tacoma WA |
| 2:10 – 3:00 | Mudzidzi Mbira — Rooted in Eugene |
| 3:10 – 4:00 | Kwaziwai — Kutsinhira graduates adding mbira to marimba |
| 4:10 – 5:00 | Festival Highlights |
| Marimba: Rugare I Tribute to Alport Mhlanga with Michael Sibanda and students, guest performers welcome | |
| Singing: Zunguza Muviri (Shake Your Body) with Tipei Marazanye and students | |
| Dance: Gumboot Dance with Lucky Moyo and students | |
Evening Concert (By Donation), SURC Ballroom |
|
| 7:30 – 8:20 | Boka Marimba — Portland’s finest |
| 8:30 – 9:20 | Musekiwa & Friends — Gwenyambira and old friends |
| 9:30 – 10:20 | Rubatano Marimba — Marimba sounds wafting from Whidbey Island |
| 10:30 – 11:20 | Pamwe Marimba — Mixed marimba ensemble from 5 western states |
Concert crowd at Zimfest 2023
