Upcoming Events
From Kutsinhira
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Celebrations
Zimfest 2008
Zimfest this year will be held July 4-6 in Tacoma, Washington! Check out the Zimfest website to learn more and sign up for classes!
Zimfest 2007
Zimfest last year was held on August 24-26 in Olympia, Washington.
Performances
June 14th, 2008, 5:00-6:00pm and 6:30-7:30pm
Hokoyo will play at Autism Rocks out at LCC on Saturday, June 14th, 2008
June 27th, 2008, Time tbd
Mawungira Enharira, an mbira orchestra from Zimbabwe, will perform with Hokoyo opening at Cozmic Pizza on Friday, June 27th, 2008
June 29th, 2008, 2hrs between 5:30 and 8:30pm
Hokoyo will be playing at a neighborhood party during the Olympic Trials to highlight some of the cool things and people in Eugene at Fairmount Park on Sunday, June 29th, 2008
Classes
Zimbabwean Guest Scene
Spring 2008
As of 4/21/08
During the month of March, Kutsinhira hosted a very successful visit with Zimbabwean mbira virtuoso Musekiwa Chingodza, including several performances, a dance, drum and singing workshop, a choral singing workshop, visits to Kutsinhira classes and ensembles, private mbira lessons, and some very fun parties. We then sent Musekiwa and Bud Cohen off on a tour of the Seattle area, the East Coast and Midwest. Bud is returning today, but Musekiwa will continue on to California, New Mexico and Colorado before returning on June 25 to spend a midsummer month with us in Eugene, when he will be performing at the Oregon Country Fair and several other festivals and events. Chingodza_Ndimambo.jpg
Right about the time when Musekiwa returns, we will be visited by a troupe of SEVEN Zimbabwean musicians, Mawungira Enharira ( www.mawungira.com ) This phenomenal group plays and sings incredible traditional music in “Mbira orchestra” style, with dancing and drumming. If they get them through customs, they will be performing in their traditional animal skin outfits (nhembe). You can hear and see them perform at Cozmic Pizza on Friday, June 27, or at the Salem World Beat Festival on June 28. They will also be teaching some classes in singing, drumming, mbira and hosho. Watch for details!
On July 3 – 7, most of us will be traveling up to Tacoma Washington to attend Zimfest 2008 at Pacific Lutheran University. Musekiwa, Mawungira Enharira, and many more fine musicians will be teaching and playing there. If you have not yet made plans to go, check out www.zimfest.org for details on what is happening and how to be a part of it.
Following Zimfest (but with a little break!), we will be welcoming Sheasby Matiure to Eugene for a July 18 – 25 visit. Sheasby has finished his doctoral work at Indiana University, and must return to Zimbabwe this August. It will be our farewell visit with him. Plans include some intensive work with Kutsinhira and community youth on marimba and singing, a workshop with Kupembera Choir and a community choir workshop as well, under Kutsinhira’s sponsorship, Sheasby will also give a free lecture demonstration highlighting the nyunga nyunga mbira, the history of Kwanongoma College and the development of Zimbabwean marimba music. Don’t miss your chance to learn from this excellent teacher of Zimbabwean choral singing and marimba.
In mid-August, we will welcome some old and some new friends. Our dear friends and teachers Cosmas Magaya and Ambuya Beauler Dyoko will return to Eugene for a short (2.5 week) stay. They will be teaching private and group lessons in mbira and singing, and also performing together (venue TBA). On Labor Day weekend, they will be the resident teachers at the 4th annual Camp Pagungwa in Florence, Oregon, a wonderful opportunity for students of all levels to immerse themselves for 3 days in the traditional mbira music and culture of Zimbabwe.
As for the new friends, Andrea Olson is arranging for Bongo Love, a group of four personable young Zimbawean musicians, to perform at Sam Bonds along with Pachi Pamwe . All the details of this visit have not yet been set, but we will let you know as soon as they are.
Can you believe the wealth that is being provided to us here at Kutsinhira as students of Zimbabwean music? I am so grateful to all those who have worked so hard to make these visits and events possible. Let’s all support these guests by attending their performances and workshops, interacting with them, and extending the hand of our friendship.
Marilyn Kolodziejczyk Zimbabwe Liaison
For booking or other information, please contact:
Kutsinhira Cultural Arts Center
C/o Marilyn Kolodziejczyk
3290 University Street
Eugene Oregon 97405
(541) 484-5034
mkolo@continet.com
