concert on Saturday - Musekiwa Chingodza - legendary Zimbabwean mbira (thumb piano) player

You’re invited to a unique house concert at the home of Nancy and Rick Steele, 2821 Cody Ave., Bellingham, on Saturday, June 23 from 7-9pm featuring special guest Musekiwa Chingodza, a legendary Zimbabwean mbira (thumb piano) player/teacher who is currently touring the U.S, and will teach and perform at the Zimbabwean Music Festival in Moscow, Idaho Aug. 2-5.

This year, Musekiwa has participated in university presentations (lectures and demonstrations) at such prestigious colleges as the University of Cincinnati (Ohio); Eastman School of Music (Rochester, NY); Pomona College (Los Angeles, CA) and the University of Oregon (Eugene).
Julie Ishihara—a long-time member of the Bellingham Zimbabwean music community—will accompany Musekiwa on hosho (dried gourd shakers). A minimum $5 donation is requested. Info: nancy@ruvara.org or 920-6494.

Musekiwa Chingodza was born into a family of great mbira players in Mwangara village, Murewa, Zimbabwe, in 1970. Surrounded by gwenyambira, or great mbira players, he began playing mbira at the age of five and is self-taught. In 1991 Musekiwa was a key member of the band Panjea, founded by Chris Berry. He composed the hit song “Ganda” on Panjea’s Zimbabwean album. He formerly taught mbira at Prince Edward School in Harare for many years, and continues to be in demand to play mbira at ceremonies in Zimbabwe. He is an excellent singer, dancer and ngoma drummer in the Shona tradition and plays both mbira dzavadzimu and nyunga nyunga. Following up on his widely acclaimed CD with Jennifer Kyker, entitled Tsunga, Musekiwa released his CD VaChingodza Budai Pachena, his solo CD, Kutema Musasa, a second collaboration with Jennifer Kyker, Muronda Tsimba, and his latest with Bud Cohen, Tomutenda Mambo.