Band from Zimbabwe Visits TSA HS
On Tuesday, April 9, Mokoomba, Zimbabwe’s premiere band of traditional and contemporary African music, came to The Sharon Academy High School for an impromptu performance during the school’s weekly All-School meeting. Instead of covering the usual agenda of student and faculty issues, Mokoomba performed a sampling of their music and got the whole school on its feet doing a traditional dance. Watch
Mokoomba takes its name from a Tonga word that connotes deep respect for the Zambezi River and for the vibrant life that it brings to their music and culture.
Mokoomba was in the Upper Valley for its second visit. Hosted by Pentangle Arts, GlobaLocal and the North Chapel Universalist Church of Woodstock, the band participated in a three-day residency that included a Saturday concert in the Suicide Six Ski Area lodge, a community workshop and talk-back at the church, and a workshop with the Woodstock Elementary School and Prosper Valley students on Monday.
According to the Pentangle Arts website, “Mokoomba is one of Africa’s most exciting young bands, dazzling audiences worldwide with their knockout live shows and potent blend of traditional Tonga, Luvale, & Nyanja sounds laced with international styles from soukous to soul. Based in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, the band’s six members, Mathias Muzaza (lead vocals), Ndaba Coster Moyo (drums, backing vocals), Trustworth Samende (lead guitar, backing vocals), Donald Moyo, (keyboards, backing vocals), Miti Mugande, (percussion & backing vocals) and Abundance Mutori (bass, backing vocals) grew up as friends in the Chinotimba township. Living in a border city that attracts tourists from all over the world gave Mokoomba’s music an international perspective from the beginning, incorporating everything from reggae to Afro-pop to soul alongside their own local musical traditions.”
Head of School Michael Livingston closed the program by noting the importance of both their music and their contribution to building cultural bridges. Learn more about TSA.