Blessing Chimanga wanted to set himself apart. The South African musician, born in Zimbabwe and currently working at Kutandara Studio in Boulder, wanted to find a unique way he’d be identified by music fans. Playing a traditional instrument like guitar or bass wasn’t going to do it, but perhaps playing a marimba as the lead instrument is his fusion of world pop, Afrobeat and jazz would be that identifiable method.
Blessing Chimanga will perform Friday when he opens for Bongeziwe Mabandla at the Durango Arts Center; it’s a show presented by local music school iAM MUSIC.
If you go
WHAT: Bongeziwe Mabandla and Blessing Chimanga perform an iAM MUSIC event.
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday.
WHERE: Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave.
Tickets: $25/$30.
More information: Visit www.iammusic.us.
For those not in the know, the marimba falls in the xylophone or vibraphone category; the marimba particular to music of Zimbabwe is tuned to the key of “C,” made from wood and features 17 or 19 keys.
“I wanted to bring the marimba as the prime instrument, and as my traditional instrument from Zimbabwe culture, but I wanted to infuse it with the sound that groomed me,” Chimanga said. “So, you know there’s a style of music called ‘Afro-jazz’ and that’s what I’m playing, using marimba as the front instrument. My music is in Shona and English, Shona being the Zimbabwe native language. And I’ve also put it in English.”
For shows booked and produced by iAM MUSIC, education about the genre and music remains as important to the artists as a merch table. Chimanga is someone who some days is a teacher, other days is a musician, titles that go hand in hand that have helped absorb him into the mission of the local music school. Co-founder and program director of iAM Music Jesse Ogle will even be playing bass in his band.
“One of the things that I’m so grateful for about iAM MUSIC is opportunities to explain what the artist is doing or that they are bringing,” he said. “It’s not usually like that, you know, to have people bringing in the education aspect. So, I really thank iAM Music; they open more opportunities beside bringing in just an artist to play, but to get the audience to know more about the person and the style of music, and the instruments they play.”
There’s a real do-it-yourself aesthetic and noncommercial vibe to the music of Chimanga and his approach to this show and its attendees. These aren’t shows where the artist will camp out backstage waiting to play, only to be whisked away once the show has ended. An artist like Chimanga will be front and center before and after the show, always at the ready to talk marimba, Afro-jazz music or the culture of South Africa. Music is all about bringing people together, which is part of his mission as a musician.
“Where I come from in Africa, we value connection more than anything when we are playing for people. So, having opportunities where I can connect with the people and be human, and not just a start, its so good,” Chimanga said.
That connection won’t come from the venue. It won’t come from the promoter. It’s got to come from a willing musician who comes to perform without that barrier that exists between fan in the seats and musician on the stage. Chimanga’s never had that barrier.
“I think it’s a personal decision from the musician, that you want to relate to the people that are supporting you. I never want to call people that come for me just fans, I want to call them family, so that I can have a proper interaction that is beyond me standing on the stage,” he said. “And that has proved to be deeper, and some of those relations will go on for years and years.”
Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager. Reach him at liggett_b@fortlewis.edu.
