| Bembero Mudenbu
(The Celebration of the Basket) |
Project Title: Bembero Mudenbu (The Celebration
of the Basket)
Recipient Organization: Oakland Youth Chorus
Lead Artist: Julia Tsitsi Chigamba
Genre and Date Awarded: Traditional Arts, June 2005
To Be Premiered: May 2005
Zimbabwean artist Julia Tsitsi Chigamba will collaborate with members
of the Oakland Youth Chorus to create Bembero Mudenbu, (The Celebration
of the Basket), a new multidisciplinary presentation of Zimbabwean
music and dance that traces the history and diversity of the Shona
musical tradition and its journey into the modern world. The performance
will weave Chigamba’s traditional music and dance with new musical
arrangements and choreography to relate the story of her life growing
up in the village in Zimbabwe, her transition to life in the United
States, and her struggle to balance between traditional and modern
culture. The lead artist writes, “My way of speaking is through
the traditional Shona dance and music, and that is how I would like
to tell my story.”
Lead artist Julia Tsitsi Chigamba, the daughter of the highly respected gwenyambira (master
mbira player) Tute Chigamba, is a member of a renowned family of
performers. Since residing in Oakland, she has formed the Chinyakare
Ensemble and Mafendefa, a dance and drum ensemble. She and the ensembles
have performed widely in the United States and Canada. At this time,
Ms. Chigamba is the only native traditional Zimbabwean woman dancer
ever to have resided in the United States.
Through this project, the lead artist seeks to
immerse the youth, adults, and families of the Oakland Youth Chorus
and the community
at large in Zimbabwean life. In addition to developing choreography
and musical compositions, the collaboration will produce traditional
costumes and instruments, translate poetry derived from traditional
songs, and develop set and stage designs that recreate Zimbabwean
life. Julia Tsitsi Chigamba’s father and Chigamba family members
will participate in the project performance, which will culminate
with a community meeting, called a “dare” (dah-reh) in
traditional Shona culture.
For the past 30 years, the Oakland Youth Chorus has served children
and teenagers of the Bay Area, dedicating itself to musical excellence,
youth mentoring, cross-cultural dialogue, and community involvement.
Staffed by master musicians who are committed to sharing their knowledge
with youth and families, it is known for its dynamic musical training
and performances. In addition to extensive school-based music education
programs, the Chorus trains and hosts a number of ensembles of young
singers. The Chorus shares with the Chigamba family a commitment
to transmitting essential knowledge to a younger generation through
the arts.
Julia Tsitsi Chigamba grew up in the cultural traditions of Shona
music and dance, in a family in which every member sings, dances,
and plays the traditional music. Guided by her father Tute Chigamba,
a gwenyambira (master mbira player) who is from a long line
of musicians and storytellers, and her mother Laizah Chigamba, a
master traditional dancer, the family continues to hold traditional bira ceremonies
that exemplify Shona tradition. The lead artist writes, “Even
during colonial times when ceremonies were banned and many people
turned away from the culture, my family continued to hold onto the
traditions. At ceremonies, we play music and dance sometimes for
many days and nights. No matter what the reason for the ceremony
is, the most important thing is that the family is together and that
we respect our ancestors and our traditions. It is how we survive.”
Many of the Chigamba family members, including Julia, were part
of the former Zimbabwean National Dance Company. She is a longtime
member of Mhembero, the internationally known Chigamba family
dance and mbira ensemble, artistic director of the Chinyakara
Ensemble since 1999, and founder of the dance and drum ensemble Mafendefa. Ms.
Chigamba has performed and taught widely in the United States and
Canada, and now lives in Oakland. While many of her family members
have traveled worldwide, Julia is the only one to set up long term
residency outside of Zimbabwe.
Tawanda MuChinyakare: Founding director of non-profit organization
dedicated to preservation of Shona music and bridging wisdom
between cultures through education and exchange
Founding member, Mhembero (previously known as The Young Zimbabweans),
the Chigamba family mbira and dance ensemble.
Founder, Chinyakare Ensemble, Oakland, CA
Founder, Mafendefa, Zimbabwean dance and drum ensemble of youth
and adults, Oakland, CA
Mhembero tour of Africa, 1983-2000
Mhembero tour of Europe, 1998
Mhembero tour of China, 1996
Mhembero tour of Canada, 1995
Mhembero tour of the South Pacific, 1994
“People Like Me,” series for school
age groups, World Arts West, 2003
San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, 2002
Clarion Music, San Francisco, 2002
Julia Morgan Theater and Ashkenaz, Berkeley, CA, 2002
Calvin Simmons Theatre, Oakland, 2001 and 2002
University of San Francisco, 2002
University of Oregon, 2001
Zimbabwean Music Festival, Port Townsend and Monterey, 1998 and
2001
Chinyakare Ensemble, CD in production, 2002
Boka Marimba, Zviri Kufamba Zvishoma, 2000
Kushinga Mhavambo, Kushinga Mhavambo, 1998
Mhembero Mbira Ensemble, Pasi Mupindu, 1998
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