Chiwoniso brings Zimbabwean music to Higher Ground
Toolbox
By Art Edelstein Correspondent - Published: September 5, 2008
Zimbabwe, a struggling African nation, has received a lot of press attention recently with its strongly contested presidential election that returned longtime dictator Robert Mugabe to power. This country also has some wonderful music and on Sept. 11, singer Chiwoniso will perform at Higher Ground in Burlington.
Chiwoniso Maraire is an interesting performer. She grew up in Olympia, Wash., as the daughter of Zimbabwean ethnomusicologist Abraham Dumisani Maraire. She learned to play the mbira, the African thumb piano, at age 4 and was performing on her parents' album "Tichazomuona" at age 9.
Chi, as she is known, moved with her family back to Zimbabwe when she was 16 and has performed from that nation ever since.
This African singer says she is "a child of three cultures – African-American, South African and Zimbabwean."
Chi is visiting Vermont as part of a promotional tour after the release of her second CD, "Rebel Woman." Vermont keyboard player and producer Chas Eller of Charlotte had a hand in the album's production and makes a cameo appearance on the CD.
"Rebel Woman" is typical of most African popular music. It bounces and pulses with local rhythms and is a very danceable record. Chiwoniso, who is fluent in English, sings most of the songs in the Shona language, although the title cut is in English.
While the audience may not understand the words to the songs, I suspect at this concert the singer will be translating the meaning of each song into English before singing.
Expect an evening of emotional songs as Chiwoniso is an activist whose lyrics depict the struggles for democracy in her country. Also expect the music to have a very danceable beat one that will lure all but the most leaden footed onto the dance floor.
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