Workshop Teachers and Presenters

 

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, Mondrek Muchena, Ephat Mujuru, Newton Gwara, Irene Chigamba, Tute Chigamba, Chris Mhlanga, Luken Pasipamire, Fradreck Mujuru, Fungai Mujuru, Sam Mujuru, Cosmas Magaya, 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, and other locations. 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 135 Zimbabwean mbira players and 11 instrument makers.

Jaiaen Beck was introduced to Zimbabwean music through attending a Shona Spirituality lecture by the late Dumisani Maraire. Since 1990 she has worked with several Zimbabwean and North American teachers studying Shona music and healing traditions. In 1993, she established Ancient Ways as a charitable non-profit to preserve traditional ways of indigenous people and has taught music to all ages since that time. She has provided a link for people to network and offer humanitarian aid to rural Zimbabwe through co-founding Nhimbe for Progress in 1999 and Jangano in 2005, two separately managed rural community development projects which are directed in-country by Zimbabweans in partnership with Ancient Ways.

Nathan Beck has studied Shona music since the early 1990s 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.

Garadziva Chigamba is a dancer, singer, composer, and musician. He has been playing marimba, mbira, and drum most of his life, having grown up in one of the most prestigious musical families of Zimbabwe. He has traveled worldwide, teaching and performing with Mhembero, a traditional Zimbabwean Dance Troupe. Garadziva has performed in South Africa, Zambia, Malaysia, China, Japan, the United States, and Canada. He now lives in British Columbia where he teaches marimba, mbira, drumming, hosho, and dance both privately and in various schools and camps. He is now director and leader of the high-spirited group Jambanja, which plays many of his original compositions.

Melissa Chigamba started playing Shona music in 1996. While living in Santa Cruz, California, she was involved in the West African Drum and Dance scene. She began learning Shona music through members of the local group Dandaro, and within six months she was a member. In 1998 she traveled to Zimbabwe to study mbira, marimba, and dance and complete a six-month independent field study for UCSC. After graduating in 1999, Melissa went back to Zimbabwe to further study Zimbabwean music and dance. She currently lives in Victoria, Canada, with her husband Garadziva Chigamba. Together they teach and travel with their band Jambanja. Melissa's teachers include Garadziva, Julia, Irene, Mataure, and Tute Chigamba as well as Ronnie Dhaliyo, Admire Chanhakwe, Russell Landers, Tom Melkonian, and Forward Kwenda.

Lora Lue Chiorah-Dye has taught for the Washington State Arts Commission for over 20 years, sharing her knowledge of music, song, dance, story-telling, and children's games. She has performed for the past 29 years either with Lora and Sukutai Marimba and Dance Ensemble or with Dumi and Minanzi Marimba Ensemble. Lora was born and grew up in Zimbabwe. She now lives in Seattle, where she has worked as a recreation specialist for the Seattle Parks Department for over 25 years, mostly at Langston Hughes Cultural Arts Center.

Ambuya Stella Chiweshe was one of the first Zimbabwean women to record mbira-based music. She grew up in the Mhondoro rural area, and the first time she heard the captivating sound of mbira she was determined to play. After struggling to find a teacher (it was unusual for a girl to play mbira), Flaviano Maveto became her teacher in the 1960s. It was difficult to convince someone to make an instrument for her, and in 1974 Stella borrowed an mbira to record her first single, "Kasahwa." Though she faced the disapproval of her community, where women performers were often treated as "loose" women, an mbira maker heard her record and agreed to make an instrument for her. Stella went on to record 24 singles. Before Zimbabwe's independence in 1980, she played at ceremonies but worked as a maid during the day. She joined the Zimbabwe National Dance Company in 1981, and in 1987 began recording on the German Piranha label. Stella is a singer, composer, and mbira player who leads her own band, Earthquake. She tours internationally and lives in both Zimbabwe and Germany. Stella also directs the Mother Earth Trust-Network of Female Artists in Zimbabwe and helped form the Zimbabwe Musicians Union.

Fiona "Ona" Connon began playing marimba in 1992 and has been immersed in learning, performing, and teaching Shona music ever since. She recently spent five months in Zimbabwe studying with the Chigambas and the Mujurus. Her passions are hosho and marimba composition. A founding member of Victoria's Marimba Muzuva, Ona has performed with many of Zimbabwe's top traditional musicians.


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Ambuya Beauler Dyoko was Zimbabwe's first woman mbira recording artist. 38 years later, many Zimbabweans consider some of Beauler's original lyrics traditional because they heard them constantly on the radio while growing up. Beauler is leader and featured singer of the contemporary mbira ensemble, the Black Souls, and has often been invited to perform a traditional song to open the Zimbabwean Parliament. She has performed internationally with the Black Souls, with the Zimbabwe Group Leaders Mbira Ensemble, and with Cosmas Magaya and others. Beauler is also a spirit medium, herbalist, fashion designer, and teacher of traditional Shona cooking. She is an active member of organizations promoting women musicians in Zimbabwe, and has written original songs in support of AIDS awareness and non-violence.

Kite Giedraitis has been playing Shona music since 1987 and began teaching in Portland in 1991. 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. Many 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. Kite founded Fools in Paradise in 2001.

Trymore Jombo started his music career spinning records, then known as "Lt. Zorro" by friends from his childhood neighborhood of Chitungwiza. Unfulfilled by this path, he began studying marimba and mbira on his own and later trained to be a sound engineer, which led him to John Mambira. They were both employed by Dumi Ngulube's band at the time and it didn't take long for the two to see the potential they had together. Also known as "Guchi," meaning "sweeter than sugar," Trymore provides those delicious mbira lines as well as backing vocals for Bongo Love.

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 Dumisani Maraire. She performed for several years with Dumi and the Maraire Marimba Ensemble both in the U.S. and in Zimbabwe, and was a founding member of the Seattle marimba groups Kutamba and Musango, as well as the Mahonyera Mbira Ensemble. 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 completed her doctoral degree in 2006, writing her dissertation on - what else - the modern Zimbabwean marimba. She is currently living in Seattle, teaching and playing mbira and marimba.

Tedd Judd had a long history as a musician in choirs, orchestras, bands, brass quintets, and gamelan before he became a neuropsychologist and then a marimba player and teacher. He has studied and performed with Dumisani Maraire and has also studied with many other Zimbabweans through years of Zimfest and other workshops. Tedd has done research and published on the psychology of music and especially on melody perception. He is fascinated with why it is that we hear what we hear and on the many roles of music in different cultures.

Viktor Karlsson and Tomas Lindqvist from Sweden, despite their young age, have studied African marimbas for 11 years under Peta Axelsson's lead in Zimba Marimba. Zimba Marimba visited Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana on many different occasions, trying to learn more about the rich and extremely complex African music and culture - especially that from Zimbabwe. Zimba Marimba toured extensively in Europe and Africa, and they also performed at Zimfest in 2005. Aside from that, the last couple of years Viktor and Tomas have taught African marimbas at different music schools in southern Sweden. For two years, they have been running their own marimba school based in Helsingborg, Sweden, where they teach people of all ages to play Zimbabwean music. This year they visit Zimfest with one of their youth groups - Mzungo Marimba Band. Viktor and Tomas hope to bring to Zimfest a different, fresh view on how westerners, though we are all forever learning, can teach African marimbas!

MyLinda King played with Boka Marimba between 1989 and 1999. Since 1994 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.

Jennifer Kyker began to play marimba in 1990 and mbira in 1992. She has lived and studied in Zimbabwe for over three years. Jennifer has performed with various artists in Zimbabwe and the United States, including Kudana Marimba Ensemble, the Chigamba family's group Mhembero, Wagogo, and Chris Berry and Panjea. With Musekiwa Chingodza, she released the CD "Tsunga" and also performed on Musekiwa's solo album, "Chingodza Budai Pachena." Jennifer has been teaching at Zimfest since 1995. She is currently working on a PhD dissertation in ethnomusicology at the University of Pennsylvania.

Cosmas Magaya is an internationally recognized master of the mbira dzavadzimu. As a performer, mbira teacher, and leader of the mbira ensemble Mhuri yekwa Magaya, he has gained national and international acclaim for his extraordinary talent as a musician and teacher in the Zimbabwean music traditions. As a performer, he has completed several international tours with mbira ensembles Mhuri yekwa Rwizi and Zimbabwe Group Leaders Mbira Ensemble, including two in Europe and two in the United States. His performances are featured on a number of critically acclaimed CDs. As an mbira master musician and respected teacher, Cosmas has been invited to teach master classes at top universities in the United States including Stanford, Northwestern, and Duke University as well as numerous other universities throughout the U.S. and Canada. In addition to performing and teaching, since 1971 Cosmas has collaborated with ethnomusicologist Dr. Paul Berliner, doing field research on Shona traditional music that has resulted in a scholarly book, The Soul of Mbira.

John Mambira can be credited as the brains of the group Bongo Love and has been involved in many forms of art—acting, dancing, singing, and playing music. Before starting Bongo Love he worked with various groups, both amateur and professional, and has taught workshops at many festivals. A phenomenal drummer, marimba player, and singer with a wide vocal range, he heads up most of the arrangements and writes the lyrics to the group's songs.

Mpho Mambira grew up playing his father's drums with his brother John and also experimented with dancing as a youngster, which he still does during the occasional performance. When John brought home a marimba one day, Mpho, also known as "Shoes," excitedly started experimenting on the baritone and never put down the mallets. Like John, he has involved himself with many community music projects over the years and has made it his job to keep the band, Bongo Love, focused and on task. He is the backbone on the baritone, playing with ease and confidence.

Paul Mataruse learned to play marimba with his twin brother and a few neighborhood friends from the age of six. His musical style is as much derived from his father as it is from jam sessions in a small room with two soprano instruments, two tenors, and a baritone. Paul often describes these sessions as the best musical education he ever got, and to this day he encourages his friends and students to jam on the marimbas. In the more than 20 years since he started playing marimba, Paul has taught in schools in and around Harare and Mashonaland West in Zimbabwe, as well as in North America. He currently lives in the Seattle area, where he is musical director of Whidbey Island-based Ruzivo Marimba.

Sheasby Matiure is currently a lecturer in music education at the University of Zimbabwe. As a graduate of Kwanongoma College of Music, 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. He is currently at IU finishing a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology. Sheasby is a highly respected musician, adept at teaching choral singing, marimba, mbira, and hosho. He has conducted workshops on the above in Sweden, Norway, Australia, and the United States. He is currently teaching and directing mbira and marimba ensembles at Indiana University.

Themba Mawoko started playing the marimba before he could read or write. Taught at home by his uncle, he picked up the instrument effortlessly and his talent was quick to be noticed when he started the first grade and joined the school band. In no time he was playing professionally with the St. Columbus School marimba band, showing his talents at the Zimbabwean National Trade Fair every year. When he ran into the beginnings of Bongo Love and expressed interest in joining, they only gave him one chance to prove himself, which was more than enough, and he has since become the soul of the group.

Ilana Moon has been studying and performing Zimbabwean music and dance since 1997. She played with Amani Marimba from Hornby Island for five years and with various West African drum ensembles. She began studying West African dance at the age of 12 after already being immersed in ballet, jazz, and modern. Ilana has toured with Julia Chigamba, master dancer from Zimbawe, performing and teaching in schools along the west coast. Ilana has been playing in Jambanja with Garadziva Chigamba since 2002, actively performing and touring at many festivals, cultural events, private gatherings, and school performances around British Columbia. Since 2003 she has run "Dancing Moon" dance company in Victoria, teaching West African dance and her own fusion style to kids and adults who perform at many non-profit events.

Lucky Moyo has performed and taught Ndebele, Kalanga, and Suthu choral music and dance on the international stage for over 20 years. He performed and taught at Zimfest in 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2006. Lucky is an arts lobbyist, event manager, producer, director, singer, songwriter, voice coach, teacher, and workshop leader who has visited 30 countries around the world. For Lucky, the process of sharing is the real driving force and core of all his work. With this in mind, he works in a variety of settings such as schools, colleges, community centers, theaters, reformatories, prisons, as well as arts-based training with numerous organizations including business staff training programs. Lucky is a firm believer in the role of music beyond just entertainment. He passionately argues for music as a vehicle for change, communication, healing, and problem solving.

Tendai Muparutsa was born in Mutare, Zimbabwe. He attended the Zimbabwe College of Music, where he was taught by Dumi Maraire, Sheasby Matiure, Claire Jones, Mitchel Strampf, and several others. Tendai describes himself as more of an ethnomusicologist than just a music educator. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Zimbabwe and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Music Education at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. Tendai has also played with several popular bands in Zimbabwe. He has trained Marymount Teachers College Dance Troop and their marimba band and has worked with Rooftop Promotions dance group for Harare International Festival Arts (HIFA) performances. Tendai has also led the Zimbabwe College of Music Marimba Ensemble during his entire study period there. He taught workshops in schools around Harare and Mutare and was involved in an exchange program between Zimbabwe's ZAME and Friedrikstad of Norway, where he taught marimba to the Norwegians. Before Tendai left Zimbabwe he was a Teaching Assistant at Midlands State University, where he led their marimba and dance sections. He is currently a TA at the University of Idaho's Lionel Hampton School of Music, where he teaches Zimbabwean marimba. Tendai also teaches three marimba groups—two in Moscow, Idaho, and one in Clarkston, Washington. One of these groups, Chiroto Marimba Ensemble, will be performing at Zimfest this year.

Sheree Seretse began studying with Dumisani Maraire in 1970, then began performing with him a year later 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 and directs Anzanga, which she founded in 1986, and Shumba Youth Marimba Ensemble, founded in 2003. Sheree teaches classes on marimba, mbira, ngoma, dance, and African children's games. She also lectures on Shona music at three independent schools, Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, and around the country.

Michael Sibanda was born in Masvingo and grew up in Bulawayo in a musical family. His father worked at The United College of Education (Kwanongoma College of Music), his late brother Leonard was educated at Kwanongoma, and his brother Onesimus worked in Kwanongoma's music workshop making marimbas and mbiras. Michael was fortunate to be taught music as a subject at Mzilikazi Primary School, where he also played in the marimba band. After high school he attended Kwanongoma and trained as a music teacher under Alport Mhlanga. Michael has since taught music, marimba, ngoma, and mbira in schools, colleges, and at festivals and workshops. He gets inspiration from teaching and enjoys the challenges that come with it. Michael has taught in Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa, which has given him an exposure to the music of southern Africa and how it interrelates. He is now based in Johannesburg, where he teaches marimba, mbira, and ngoma at St Stithians College. Michael has played with the KwanoMoto Band, which recorded the album "Rugare" with Alport Mhlanga. He also plays with his various school bands and sessions with the Zambezi Marimba Band based in South Africa.

Wanda Walker has taught marimba privately and at the Kutsinhira Cultural Arts Center in Eugene, Oregon, for several years. She performs with the ensembles Jenaguru and Zambuko of Kutsinhira. In addition to Jennifer Kyker and many other North American teachers, the primary Zimbabwean musicians she has studied with include Cosmas Magaya, Musekiwa Chingodza, Ambuya Beauler Dyoko, Sheasby Matiure, Irene Chigamba, and Paul Mataruse. Wanda has arranged several traditional mbira songs for marimba.

Ted Wright began playing and studying Shona music with Marimba Muzuva in 1993 and has been teaching marimba, mbira, chipendani, and gumboot dancing for many years. He has studied and performed with many of Zimbabwe's top traditional musicians, receiving particular inspiration from the Chigamba family and Mhembero, Cosmas Magaya, Musekiwa Chingodza, and Sydney Maratu. Ted has been a regular teacher at Zimfest since 1997, as well as teaching ongoing classes, workshop groups, and in schools. He has traveled to Zimbabwe three times to study Zimbabwean music and culture at length. Ted's engineering and/or production work can be heard on numerous CDs for artists such as Sydney Maratu, Garadziva Chigamba, Simukai, Amani Marimba, Makeke Marimba, and Juba. He also offers his own field recordings from Zimbabwe on his Restless Rabbit label. His performing credits include world beat improv ensemble Spirit Gate, mbira quartet Choto, and Zimbabwean roots dance bands Zimfusion and Jambanja.