December 18, 2009

Volume 4, Number 10

Kalimba Magic NEWS

• In This Issue
• Message from Mark: Powerful New Film on Race
• What's the Buzz at Kalimba Magic?
• Playing Recorder with the Kalimba
• Two Great Ideas for Kalimba Cases
• Key Flexibility on the Kalimba
• Buy Zimbabwean Music and Save Lives

Buy Zimbabwean Music and Save Musicians' Lives
A Message from Erica Azim

Editor's note: Kalimba Magic has no association with Mbira.org, but we wholeheartedly support the wonderful work that this nonprofit is doing.

MBIRA is a nonprofit organization devoted to the preservation of Shona traditional music. Erica Azim was responsible for the formation of the nonprofit organization MBIRA, and directs its day-to-day operation, supporting over 150 traditional musicians and instrument makers in Zimbabwe. Erica Azim is a skilled mbira performer herself.

Save Zimbabwean Musicians' Lives by Purchasing Their Music from Mbira.org

With 100 children dying EVERY DAY in Zimbabwe, there is not only a humanitarian catastrophe, but there is the danger that, in the challenge to survive, traditional music will be lost to future generations.

Every year at this time, MBIRA suggests gifts that you can order from our nonprofit organization, which help to support over 150 Zimbabwean traditional musicians (at the bottom of the economic ladder there), and their large extended families, including the children that hopefully will survive and be the musicians of tomorrow. If you prefer to make a tax-deductible donation, go to http://www.mbira.org and click on the DONATE button, or send a check or money order made out to MBIRA to P.O. Box 7863, Berkeley, CA 94707-0863, USA.

MBIRA's nonprofit sales of traditional music CDs played by over 150 musicians from all over Zimbabwe, and mbiras by 16 Zimbabwean instrument makers, are estimated to help support more than 2000 men, women and children in Zimbabwe...AND are helping to preserve respect for traditional culture and music.

Please consider giving great gifts this year, which support Zimbabwean musicians. When you buy a CD from MBIRA, the musicians on it get a minimum of 12 times more money than if you buy a CD in almost any other physical or online store.

Here are our gift suggestions—and thank you for helping us to support Zimbabwean musicians!

1. First Mbira Lessons DVD with video lessons, audio play-along tracks, graphics and text for the new mbira player. Also available with an mbira.
2. Give MBIRA CDs. Selling just one can feed a rural musician's family for 2 weeks. Proceeds go to the musician(s) on the CD. Lists of CDs on which some or all of the musicians earned less than $50 or $100 this year follow below. Ordering from one of these lists is especially helpful, and they are ALL great recordings. If a CD on a list is one of your favorites already, give a copy to a friend. Consult our gift guide OR view new releases OR browse all CDs.
3. Shona Lessons for Mbira Students, a book/CD by Patience Chaitezvi
4. Make a tax-deductible DONATION in someone's name. Even a small donation can make a big difference in Zimbabwe. 100% of donations received between now and December 31st will go to the Zimbabwe Musicians Fund (100% of your donation goes to Zimbabwean traditional musicians we have recorded who earned less than $100 this year, including some great musicians we have recorded, but haven't had time to finish making their CDs). Go to http://www.mbira.org and click on the DONATE button at the top of the page.
5. EBONY SCULPTURES of Mbira players by very talented village mbira player and artist, Fradreck Manjengwa. We have both female and male solo mbira players in stock.
6. MBIRA ACCESSORIES: Copper and brass BANGLES, THUMBPICKS for mbira players, also bubblepadded-ziplock BAGS for mbira travel and storage.
7. Give an MBIRA T-SHIRT and other clothing. We have short-sleeved t-shirts, babydoll tees, and hooded SWEATSHIRTs too. PLEASE note what color(s) and size(s) are available and please note your desired color and size on your order.
8. Give an mbira WORKSHOP (or part payment of one) to a new or continuing mbira student. For example, weekend workshops in various locations, or an 8-day Mbira Camp. For dates and cost of workshops, see http://www.mbira.org/events.html In the San Francisco Bay Area, give the gift of mbira lessons, too. Just send a check to MBIRA with details, and we will send a gift certificate (include name of the recipient and address to send it to).
9. MBIRA INSTRUMENTS. We are expecting more mbiras and dezes to arrive about December 1st, so check back if what you want is out of stock.

ORDER ONLINE: Order with a credit card or Paypal account online at http://www.mbira.org, and we will ship your CDs by first class mail (Priority Mail if order is for 4 or more within the US, and all mbiras go by Priority Mail within the US) the next business day.

ORDER BY PHONE: You may order by phone between 9 am and 7 pm PST (West Coast US time) by calling 510-548-6053.

ORDER BY MAIL: You may also order with a check or money order by mail, and we will ship when we receive it. Please include an order form printed from the website, and include the proper amount for shipping, and tax if you are in California.

ORDER A GIFT: Please send us an additional email if you wish the gift shipped to an address other than your own, as Paypal will not always tell us this when you order online!

BUY IN PERSON: Those who live in the San Francisco Bay Area may also come to Berkeley to make purchases in person at MBIRA house or at the Musicians Fund benefit mbira concert Sat. Dec. 12 at 8 pm, email erica@mbira.org for directions to either.

CDs of Zimbabwean Musicians Who Earned Less Than $50 Each This Year

Solo Nyamaropa Tuning:
3406 Alois Mutinhiri (w/hosho)
3411 Golden Nhamo
3427 Goliath Rambakudzibwa
3451 Herbert Matema & Kajawu Chingodza (vocals)

Duet Nyamaropa Tuning:
3409 Vitalis Botsa & Fabian Rujuwa
3429 Munwanenzewe & Chasi
3452 Kadungure & Mutizwa (2 x dongonda)
3453 Muchapondwa & Chikupo

Group Nyamaropa Tuning:
3404 Muchumi/Hoto/Magaya
3410 Jekanyika Mbira Group
3423 Dzapasi Mbira Group
3424 Mhondoro Mbira Group
3425 Rushanga Mbira Group
3428 Sungano Mbira Group
3438 Mhuri yekwaRwizi - The Next Generation
3440 Dendera Resango Mbira Group
3441 Mhuri yekwaManomano
3442 Rwizi Mutoro Mbira Group
3444 Munongedzo Mbira
3449 Mandarendare Mbira Group - Nyamaropa & Dongonda Tunings
3471 Muzanenhamo Mbira Group

Gandanga/Mavembe Tuning:
3413 Courage Njenge
3420 Murawo Tembedza & Langton Bapiro

Dambatsoko Tuning:
3208 Elder Mujuru Mbira Players 1996
3339 Stanley, Norman, Sam and Munyaradzi Mujuru
3439 Dambatsoko Mbira Group
3445 Fradreck & Nyarai Manjengwa

Other Tunings & Instruments:
3453 Newton Gwara & Chaka Marimba
3265 Rinos Simboti Mukuwurirwa & Tiri Chiongoter Saungweme Tuning

Compilations & Intensives:
1100 Vashauri Vol. 1 Great Mbira Singers
3903 Nyama musango - Nyamaropa Tuning
3914 Bangidza
3911 Shumba yangwasha
3928 Nyama musango - Gandanga/Mavembe tuning
3941 Shanje

CDs of Zimbabwean Musicians Who Earned Less Than $100 Each This Year

Solo Nyamaropa Tuning:
3307 Boniface Mutandwa
3422 Friday Chamunorwa
3426 Ephraim Musekiwa
3432 Daniel Taveshure
3437 Tavengwa Chikupo
3442 Albert Zinhumwe

Duet Nyamaropa Tuning:
3268 Luken Pasipamire & Chris Mhlanga
3455 Gift Mzarabani & Ignatius Mutandwa

Group Nyamaropa Tuning:
3015 Mhuri yekwaMuchena 1991

Gandanga/Mavembe Tuning:
3062 Ephat Mujuru 1986
3144 Healing Tape on CD
3433 Madziva & Sanyika

Dambatsoko Tuning:
3454 Nicholas Jemwa & Fungai Mujuru

Other Tunings & Instruments:
3435 Dzongodza Taonezvi

Erica Azim
MBIRA: the nonprofit organization devoted to Shona mbira music of Zimbabwe
http://www.mbira.org
phone (510) 548-6053; fax (510) 548-2454
P.O. Box 7863, Berkeley, CA 94707-0863, USA
erica@mbira.org