About Kutsinhira

From Kutsinhira

Kutsinhira Cultural Arts Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to studying and sharing the music of Zimbabwe. It was founded in 1990 to continue the work of Dr. Dumisani (Dumi) Maraire, a Shona master musician.

Page Contents

1 History
2 People
3 Newsletters

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History

Dumi introduced the music to the Pacific Northwest while a doctoral student at the University of Washington. His gifts in teaching and performance fostered an enduring appreciation of Zimbabwean music including marimba, mbira, hosho, drumming, singing and dance.

In addition to classes and performances, Kutsinhira has been instrumental in sponsoring music residencies in Eugene for Zimbabwean master musicians including Cosmas Magaya, Ambuya Beauler Dyoko and Musekiwa Chingodza. We've also explored other southern African musical traditions during visits by Lucky Moyo and Loveness Wesa. The opportunity to study with these teachers has given the community unique insights into the traditional music of Zimbabwe and southern Africa.

Kutsinhria mbira logo.

The logo for Kutsinhira Center is an mbira held in a gourd resonator. The Shona word kutsinhira refers to a musical part on a mbira that responds to the main line of a song (kushaura). Taken together, they are a metaphor for the idea that a note struck in Zimbabwe reverberates with us in the Pacific Northwest.

The close musical and personal connections between Kutsinhira members and the Zimbabwean people led to the establishment of the Zimbabwe Community Development Project (ZCDP) in 2002. ZCDP funds — raised via benefit concerts, garage sales and direct donations — are used to support community development and education efforts in Zimbabwe during the currently difficult times in that country.

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