Sundaymail Editor
Tendai Chara
“KIDS are naturally intuitive. They spiritually understand what is good and they are drawn to it. I have never met a child who is not wowed and enchanted by mbira music. That enchantment is the spirit calling the children to connect to their roots.”
Dr Rainos Mutamba, the founder and director of the Ubuntu Learning Village, which is located deep in the bushes of Serima, Gutu, said these words when he was responding to a question regarding teaching mbira music at the cultural centre.
As a registered Trust, the village has a unique set-up that comprises a culture arts programme, a community health division and the Ubuntu Free School, which offers free education to local children.
The community health division offers free medical services to the local community.
Of the centre’s three divisions, it is the culture arts programme that has seemingly endeared itself the most to the locals, especially children.
Currently, 15 children, some of whom are as young as seven, are learning — for free — how to play the mbira traditional musical instrument.
The arts programme is being run by Joice Warikandwa, a mbira player who is known for producing the song “Zviri Nane Ndiende Kure”, better known by many as “Moyo Yavo Yakaoma.”
Until the coronavirus outbreak, The Ubuntu Free School had an enrolment of 50 pupils.
Recently, The Sunday Mail Society visited the cultural centre and caught up with Dr Mutamba, who enthusiastically chronicled the centre’s history and vision.
Born in Gutu, he lived in Chiredzi, Birchenough Bridge and Harare before moving to Canada, where he is currently based.
Dr Mutamba chronicled the inspiration behind setting up of the arts centre.
“My own upbringing inspired me to start a centre for cultural and intergenerational learning. My mother died when I was 15 due to complications with HIV/AIDS. As a result of her death, I struggled to pay school fees and often got kicked out of school.”
“The centre was primarily established to cater for people, especially children, who are less fortunate,” Dr Mutamba, who is a lecturer at the University of Waterloo and the University of Toronto in Canada, said.
Apart from being a lecturer, he also teaches mbira music and culture, both in Canada and the United States.
At the centre, elderly people are also taught how to play the mbira and other traditional musical instruments.
“We hope to have a full intergenerational Ubuntu Ensemble that will be touring around the world. This ensemble will be comprised of mbira, marimba and the drummers. Dancers will also be part of the ensemble.”
A mbira ‘revolution’, Dr Mutamba added, is currently underway.
“Mbira music is very much appreciated by people from different races and cultures. The growth of this centre, which was built with the help of mbira enthusiasts from around the world, owes to this appreciation.
”Mbira music has enabled us to connect with the globe and many people are now appreciating it.”
He, however, said most Zimbabweans do not fully appreciate their traditional cultures.
“It is not just the mbira music which is being appreciated by people from other cultures, the whole culture behind mbira music is also appreciated. Our own traditions and spiritual cosmologies are respected. It is, however, ironic to note that some of our people regard our own culture as evil.”
A firm advocate of the land reform exercise, Dr Mutamba strongly believes that the land reform exercise was not only necessary, but was long overdue.
“I am an advocate for Zimbabwe and a firm believer in land decolonisation. Without land reclamation, decolonisation will never be complete. Land is an important part of our culture,” he said.
Plans are currently underway for the centre to grow healthy indigenous foods and accommodate more children at the school.
Online Reporter