Zimbabwean music to come to Oberlin

Father and daughter to teach and perform

This weekend, Oberlin hosts two musicians from Zimbabwe who will perform and teach for the general public. The father and daughter team of Tute and Irene Chigamba will feature their native instrument, the mbira, an instrument made of tuned metal tongues fixed on another piece of metal. Often, there are bottle caps or shells attached to create a buzzing sound. This metal piece is set inside a large gourd for amplification. The pair will hold workshops on African music and dance. They will be appearing together with Oberlin's own Dance Diaspora.

Sophomore Adrianne Koteen is sharing this experience with the community. Koteen has been involved with the music of the Chigambas since she was young. Koteen calls her home state of Washington a "hot bed for Zimbabwean music." The interest in such music has been spurred on in large part by an ethnomusicology professor at the University of Washington who introduced mbira music to the state. Since then, there have been many people, including the Chigamba family, who have performed and taught this type of music within Washington.

Koteen became involved with the Chigambas this summer on her island home of Orcas, WA through Nancy Konig, a teacher of mbira music. Konig will be accompanying the Chigambas' on their trip throughout the U.S.

Tute is from the Guruwe region of Zimbabwe and was born into a family of musicians and spiritualists. He is both nationally and internationally renowned for his storytelling, music and his ability for instrument building. Irene taught herself to play the mbira by the age of eight. She accomplished this tremendous task by observing her father. A founder of the Mhembero, or "celebration" dance group, Irene and her company perform and teach traditional African dance. The mbira instrument, along with a particularized song and dance tradition, is part of the rituals included in the Shona religion of Africa.

Tute and Irene are visiting not only to spread the Shona culture, but to raise money for a project especially important to them. Part of the proceeds from their 1999 tour will be donated to the building and funding of the Kumsha Cultural Center, slated to be constructed in the city of Harare, Zimbabwe.

The father and daughter pair will perform Saturday at 8 p.m. in Warner Main. On Sunday there will be a free public workshop in Warner Studio 3. The visit will culminate on Monday with lectures and demonstrations in Professor Caroline Jackson-Smith's "Black Arts Workshop" and Professor Rod Knight's "Musics of the World." The Chigambas' visit is sponsored by the Student Union, the Ethnomusicology Department, Concert Board, the MRC and the Afrikan Heritage House.

From Zimbabwe with love: Tute and Irene Chigamba will bring to Oberlin the mbira, the native instrument of Zimbabwe, in a series of workshops and concerts. (photo courtesy of Adrianne Koteen)