BY CHIEDZA MAZHANGARA LEADER for Gandamasungo, an arts crew which teaches and promotes traditional music, Freemental Nhembo believes it is high time the current generation embraced traditional music and discard the narrative that it is associated with evil spirits.
Nhembo, who is also a song writer lashed out at some church doctrines responsible for tarnishing traditional music as associated with evil spirits. This has led to the mbira (thumb piano) instrument being viewed in bad light despite it being a key part of Zimbabwean culture.
Speaking to NewsDay Life & Style, Nhembo said it had been his group’s mandate, through song and dance, to ensure that it safeguards the country’s traditional music and dance.
“I believe we have tremendously managed to restore the value of traditional music to the younger generation. As from 1987 we have trained many children at various schools how to play mbira and marimba (wooden keyboard),” Nhembo said.
“We also thank the Ministry of Education, Sports, Arts and Recreation for introducing visual and performing arts in schools which has complemented very well Gandamasungo arts crew’s vision and aspiration of promoting our local music.”
Nhembo, who is former lead guitarist for Stella Chiweshe, stated that although the local audience had been hesitantly supporting mbira music, Zimbabwe musicians have been growing internationally because of the genre. He cited Thomas Mapfumo and Chiweshe as examples.
“I believe if you want international support musically when touring the world then you must be a musician armed with our own Zimbabwean instruments, dance and perform with true originality,” Nhembo advised.
Apart from being leader of the Gandamasungo arts crew, Nhembo is an international award winner who holds a National Interschool Mbira Allied Arts trophy and is also a multi-instrumentalist and choreographer.
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He has done the country proud at the international Marimba and Steelpan festival where he directed music for St Martins Convent School who were champions for three consecutive times against more than 300 southern Africa schools.
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