Csilla’s Chums fundraising concert ~ Ashburton
Sat, 23 Jul
|Ashburton arts centre
Traditional music shared by musicians from the African diaspora working in Bristol and Devon communities
Time & Location
23 Jul 2022, 13:00 – 14:00
Ashburton arts centre, 15 West St, Ashburton, Newton Abbot TQ13 7DT, UK
About the event
The rhythms, music and songs played by Csilla’s Chums were originally shared and performed with band members during community and school based projects - in SW England and in Zimbabwe - alongside members of the African diaspora living in Bristol and Devon, including Ben Baddoo, Chartwell Dutiro, Kaya Charimba and currently Kennedy Chinyere.
For example, one dance tune Gahu, was taught during the Ekome Arts programme (1980s) that raised awareness of the richness of Ghanaian culture that can and should be reflected in UK school curricula. Others complemented activities in and around the community initiated Zambuko Community Library and Cultural Centre (1999 ongoing) which is now becoming a learning centre for Trees of Hope (2019 ongoing). These musical pieces were incorporated within the repertoires of the pioneering bands Alaha, Mixed Fruit and Zango and so reflect the personal outward looking histories of Csilla’s Chums’ musicians. The pieces have been refashioned for this performance - with the effect that selected mbira and drum based melodies are played on balaphons, flutes and bass. The songs and the metaphors they convey have also been adapted for the contemporary context.
Kennedy Chinyere - mbira, voice and drums
Nick Clough - balaphon, mbira, voice and drums
Anna Gibson Hart - balaphon, voice and percussion
Toby Kohler - electric bass
Jane Tarr - flute, alto flute and mbira
We hope you will enjoy this music
We are collecting donations today for two linked projects in rural Zimbabwe:
1. Zambuko Community Library and Cultural Centre – a large thatched library built by the Chiriseri community, Domboshava, Zimbabwe during 1999-2012. This functioning learning centre currently requires repairs to the roof, doors and windows
2. Trees of Hope, Zimbabwe – see www.treesofhopezim.com a community based tree nursery seeking to nurture local saplings and provide indigenous bushes and fruit / forest trees for the local community. See https://www.gofundme.com/f/nrg3y-roots
FFI Contact : Jane Tarr janetarr1234@gmail.com 07791551065