PRESS KIT

Below you will find information about the band, our logo, space needs, equipment needs, a copy-and-paste press release and our Facebook link.

KAMBUYU MARIMBA ENSEMBLE

We are a marimba ensemble playing music rooted in Zimbabwe. Our ensemble instruments include: 7 marimbas: 3 sopranos, 2 tenors, 1 baritone and 1 bass. The marimbas are accompanied by hosho, or gourd rattles, and sometimes drums. We play happy, percussive music—very rhythmic and driving—meant for dancing. In most songs, one of the soprano marimbas plays lead, while the other instruments provide curious, supportive counter-rhythms and chords. The music is infectious.

This music was brought to the United States during the 1960’s by the late Dr. Dumisani Maraire of the Kwanongoma College of Music in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Dumi, as he was known, was a student of the late Alport Mhlanga. This music initially became very popular in the Pacific Northwest and this interest has gradually spread across North America.  The songs we play are either influenced by mbira(thumb piano) melodies arranged for marimba, or are more modern compositions written in the Zimbabwean musical spirit.

Kambuyu is the first performing Zimbabwean-style marimba ensemble in New York, and remains one of the few bands of this type on the East Coast.

Kambuyu has been performing together since the winter of 2004.  Our members include educators, scientists, nurses, and business folk (now mostly retired!).

Kambuyu’s introduction to the instruments and music was from Stanley Sitnik, who had been a member of several popular marimba ensembles in the Pacific Northwest. His teachers were Alport Mhlanga and others who taught in this style. Stan guided us is building our own instruments and we eventually became Kambuyu Marimba Ensemble! Stanley is a talented composer as well, and the group has been fortunate to have benefited from his knowledge and expertise.

Kambuyu is grateful for all of our teachers! Michael Sibanda, Musekiwa Chingodza, Paul Maturuse, Jennifer Kyker, Stella Perlic,  and Claire Jones to name a few.

Our Name:  “Kambuyu” is a Shona word we understand means “Bugs”. The mallets (“knobs”) used to strike the marimbas remind us of insect antennae.

Space Needs:

For the full band, a minimum space of about 18 x 16 feet is required. We also need access to a door close to the performance area, preferably without stairs. The marimbas like to be dry. Weather is always a factor for outside venues.

Equipment Needs:

The band needs electrical access for microphones used for singing. We typically use our own sound system, but can use yours. The marimbas need little or no amplification as they project quite a full sound. In certain circumstances we can offer acoustic set with no amplification.

Cut-and-Paste “Press Release” below

KAMBUYU MARIMBA ENSEMBLE

Kambuyu Marimba plays music with its roots in the traditional Shona songs and rhythms of Zimbabwe.

The ensemble instruments include 7 marimbas:  3 sopranos, 2 tenors, 1 baritone and 1 bass.  The marimbas are often accompanied by hosho (gourd rattles), singing, clapping and drums.

“Kambuyu”, a Shona word for “Bugs”, plays happy, percussive music—very rhythmic and driving—meant for dancing.  In most songs, one of the soprano marimbas plays the lead melody, while the other instruments provide curious counter-rhythms and chords.  The music is infectious.

This music was brought to the United States during the 1960’s by Dr. Dumasani Maraire of the Kwanongoma College of Music in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. This music has become very popular in the Pacific Northwest and interest spread worldwide.  The songs Kambuyu plays are either influenced by traditional Shona mbira (thumb piano) melodies arranged for marimba, or are more modern compositions written in the traditional music spirit.  The various marimba parts to each song are typically taught through aural/oral tradition without written notation. Kambuyu is grateful to our Zimbabwean teachers and to our ancestors.

Kambuyu Marimba has been performing together since the winter of 2004.  Members include educators, scientists, nurses, and business folk (mostly retired). Home base is Syracuse, NY.

Find us on Facebook!!