Harare is one of the few groups to be playing Zimbabwean dance music in Europe. Formed by a musician from the heart of Zimbabwean urban music, Harare combines different styles from Jit Jive to traditional hypnotic rhythms of the mbira (lamellaphone/thumb piano). Harare music is also heavily influenced by chimurenga, the genre developed by music guru, Thomas Mapfumo.
Founding member and virtuoso marimbist Kudaushe Matimba was a member of the Zimbabwe's legendary Bhundu Boys. Bhundu boys were a groundbreaking force in the African music industry, as they paved the way for more artists to reach commercial success in Europe and the US. Kudaushe has also worked with some of the highly rated Zimbabwean musicians such as Chartwell Dutiro, Stella Chiweshe, Chiwoniso Maraire, Prince Tendai, Beular Djoko, Jonah Sithole (RIP) & many more.
Harare's music is about social awareness, life yesterday, today and tomorrow, advice, respect, love for one another and compassion. It expresses emotions such as pain, love, wisdom and rage. Words to their songs are performed in Shona language of Zimbabwe. Kudaushe brings both old and new compositions and arrangements to the Harare set. Some of the songs are traditional ones from Zimbabwe, based on the traditional instrument, the mbira. Kudaushe strongly believes in the importance of preserving one's heritage through music.
Harare have the style, momentum & experience to show there is a promising future ahead for Zimbabwean based dance music and for their exciting new songs & arrangements.
Our past activities include London Sanctuary Festival, 2007 Rise Festival (African village stage), Shambala Festival, Off The Tracks Festival, Southport International Street Festival, Mayor of London Festival, Territorios Sevilla 2008, Gateway International Festival, ZimFest London 09, Pontardawe Festival, Luton Summer Festival, Secousse London, Barnsley Black History Celebrations, Cambridge St Pauls, Hootananny London, Hull Gig In the Park, 2010 Malamu Music Club, PawPaw Jam, Recyclart Brussels, World City Music Village, Belfast Mela Festival, Crawley Mela Festival, SOAS Concert Series, Amazing Africa Festival, Howden Live & many more.
Harare are also available as an acoustic set as well as suitable for a wide range of occasions & venues from theatres, Arts centres, clubs as well as Corporate entertainment events. Workshops & sessions are also offered to groups of all ages from primary school children to senior citizens.
Mbira and Marimba lessons are also available.
Buy on - Harare Music / Sternsmusic
SONGS
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Buy on - Harare Music / Sternsmusic
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2012
10 June... World City Music Village, Horniman Museum, London SE23
23 March... The Jamm, Brixton, London
21 March... Stoke Newington, London
21 Jan... Charlie Wrights International, London
2011
15 October...Passing Clouds, London
1 October... Mudeka Foundation Fundraiser
Wymondham High School Hall, Folly Road
2010
3 September...Passing Clouds, London
4 July...Horniman Museum, London
3 July...Victoria Park, London
29 May...The Rest is Noise, London
30 April...The New Empowering Church, London
2nd April...Secousse, Notting Hill Arts Club, London
14 March...Hootananny Brixton, London
29 January...Green Note, London
8 January...Passing Clouds, London
2009
19th December...The New Empowering Church, London
18th December...Commonwealth Club, London
12th December...Penelopes Club, Sheffield
9th December...Hilton Hotel London Bridge, London
26th November...Korzo Theater, Den Haag NL (Kudaushe)
22nd November...KIT, Amsterdam NL (Kudaushe)
21st November...RASA, Utrecht NL (Kudaushe)
20th November...Rotterdam NL (Kudaushe)
18th November...Oosterpoort, Groningen NL (Kudaushe)
13th November..WOMAD Spain, Las Palmas (Kudaushe)
20th October...The Tabernacle, Powis Square, London
8th October ...Momo Kemia Bar, London W1B 4BH
3rd October...Love Zimbabwe, St David's Hall, Cardiff, Wales, 12pm - 1pm
5th September...ZimFest, Prince Georges Playing Fields, London
22nd August…Pontadawe Festival, Wales
14th August...St Georges Square, Luton
6th July - 9th August...Kudaushe Matimba - Euro tour with Chiwoniso Maraire
14th June...Victoria and Albert Museum, London (Kudaushe Matimba)
23rd May…Off The Tracks Festival, Donnington, Derbyshire
22nd May…Selby Town Hall, Selby, North Yorkshire
2nd May…Lincoln Drill Hall, Lincoln
3rd April…Brussels, Belgium (Kudaushe Matimba/Chiwoniso Maraire)
2nd April…Brussels, Belgium (Kudaushe Matimba/Chiwoniso Maraire)
31st March…Amsterdam, Netherlands (Kudaushe Matimba/Chiwoniso Maraire)
14th March…The Shire Hall, Howden, East Yorkshire
6th March…Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, Cumbria
3rd March…Music Freedom Day, Concert Hall, Stockholm, Sweden ( Kudaushe Matimba/Chiwoniso Maraire)
2008
12th December 11:45pm - 1am…Passing Clouds, Dalston, London
12th December 9:30pm - 10:45pm…SOAS, Russell Square, London
28th November…The New Wolsey Theatre, Civic Drive, Ipswich, Suffolk
8th November…Brussels, Belgium (Matimba solo)
7th November…Le Zebre, Paris, France (Matimba/Chiwoniso Maraire)
6th November…Melkweg, Amsterdam (Matimba/Chiwoniso Maraire)
4th November…Momo, London (Matimba/Chiwoniso Maraire)
1st November… Herdecke, Germany (Matimba/Chiwoniso Maraire)
30th October…Afrique Melody, Lucorum, Barnsley, South Yorkshire
9th October…The New Art Gallery, Walsall, West Midlands
30th August…ZimFest, Prince Georges Playing Fields, Raynes Park, London
2nd August…Riverside Festival, Victoria Embankment, Nottingham
31st July…Battersea Barge, Tideway Walk, Nine Elms Lane, London
30th July…Favela Chic, 91 - 93 Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch, London
13th July…The Music Village Festival, Hyde Park, London
11th July…Secousse, Notting Hill Arts Club, Notting Hill Gate, London
22nd June…Solo mbira, NNLS, London
21st June…Gig in the Park, Queens Gardens, Hull
17 - 20 June…ZimbaMarimba Summer Camp, Varberg, Sweden
14th June…The Gate Theatre, Dunhill Road, Goole
29th May…Project Zimbabwe, Walkabout, London
23rd May…Territorios Sevilla, Spain
23rd February…Greenwich, London
7th February…MAC, Birmingham. Africa Acoustic Duo featuring Kudaushe Matimba & Kadialy Kouyate
11th January…Secousse, Notting Hill Arts Club, 12 Notting Hill Gate, London
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Harare Arts is a cultural arts organisation that stimulates awareness and understanding of African music and cultures, particularly the music and culture of Zimbabwe through arts workshops, using a variety of African musical instruments such as mbira (thumb piano), marimba (wooden xylophone), ngoma/jembe. Our innovative workshops promote cultural awareness in a participatory, collective, fun and creativity promoting manner.
With the aid of clear and simple facilitation, participants will get the opportunity to play different musical instruments and learn dances and songs from different parts of Africa, exploring their social functions/relevance.
In every workshop everyone, regardless of age, gender, ability or disability, anyone from any background can and does become involved. We cover areas of the curriculum such as Citizenship, Music and Physical Education. Workshops are suitable for both primary and secondary schools, arts centres, theatres and festivals.
For more details, please contact us via our information points below.
Nyamaropa tuning (G pitch) - Available
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FRIENDS OF HARARE
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