The Zimbabwe German Society in Harare will, on January 25, host what promises to be a powerful duet performance featuring the explosively talented Othnell Mangoma Moyo and afro fusion songstress Mary Anibal.
Titled From Village to Town and Back to the Village, the show will be a musical journey across eras. A statement released this week announcing the event describes it as a “display of the richness of Zimbabwean ancient music, its contemporary interpretations and a fusion of both”.
“The performance is part of a resilience project that highlights music that was banned during the colonial era. The duet will take audiences on a journey through the influences and silences of this music, ultimately revealing its unapologetic essence,” read part of the statement.
Mangoma told IndependentXtra that the show would be an expression of music learnt from their elders.
“It will highlight the contemporary aspect that showcases our creativity while exploring a future that is influenced by traditional artforms,” Mangoma said.
The two musicians are highly skilled and share a similar creative path, rooted in afrocentric performances and traditional music education.
Both have mastered a range of ancient Zimbabwean and central Mozambican musical instruments, such as the Mbira, Varimba, Chitende, Chigufe, Ngoma, Hosho and Ngorombe, making them dedicated preservation activists who have assumed the role of guardians of Zimbabwe’s rich cultural history.
Between December 26 and 31 last year, they took part in the inaugural Inxwala/Nhuruka Traditional Music and Dance Camp that rook place at Ngoma Ingungu Arts Centre.
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For six weeks, 33 campers who included twelve US citizens dived into Mbira, Ngoma, Mbila xylophones and Zimbabwe traditional dance sessions led by Mangoma, Anibal and several other teachers, including Zanele Maseko, Solomon Madhinga and Reginald Tinavapi. Musics styles covered Nhare Mbira, Mbira DzavaNdau, Matepe Mbira and Ngororombe panpipes. Dance sessions rotated between Muchongoyo, Chinyambera, Mbende, Mbakumba, Isitshikitsha and Amabhiza dance styles.
The new hub is located 30km out of Harare in the village of Kubeta in Domboshava. Founded by Mangoma, who is a renowned ethnomusicologist and researcher, the centre serves as a vibrant space for Zimbabwean creatives and international artists alike. Groundbreaking began in 2021 and the centre officially opened its doors in May last year.
Anibal, an EU Green and Gender Ambassador, is basking in the glory of her 10-track debut album Maria Wenyu, released by Bridgenorth Music last year in September.
“I am still pinching myself, reflecting on the past three months. I am filled with joy and gratitude. Releasing Maria Wenyu has been a dream come true,” she wrote on her Facebook page. She was recently featured on the Best World Music 2024 playlist by US-based record label Cumbancha.
The performance will conclude with a question-and-answer segment, inviting audiences to engage in a conversation about the different eras of Zimbabwean music, the impact of colonisation and the journey towards recovery and revival.
Tickets are available at the Zimbabwe German Society for US$10
