One of the few surviving cultural music outfits, Movement Band, led by Hamlet Zhou (36), is participating in regional culture music festivals, to promote Zimbabwes traditional instruments and music.The band plays mbira music and has been ambassadors of Zimbabwe traditional music to South Africa festivals, since the bands formation in 2006. Band leader, Zhou and baking vocalist, Lazarus William, told this reporter the significance of the music to young generations.
The aim of our type of music is to keep the flame of Zimbabwean culture burning. It helps the young grasp traditional values and maintains their identity. Young generations are slowly moving from African and Zimbabwean culture towards western type of music and code of conduct.
We would like to use music as media to maintain and safeguard our threatened culture. Our songs teach young generations and the old to lead lives free of killer diseases such as HIV/AIDS.
A song titled Mavanga, advises the young to take heed of advice from the elderly in order to live safely and longer.
Zimbabwe culture is mainly exhibited to the outside world through events like festivals held in South Africa annually. The festivals are held in Polokwane, Mupungubwe, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Oppicopy, Bush Fire among others.
We released our first album Chirimumoyo in 2006. Our second album will be out before end of this month. Music shows we hold around town mainly at beer out-lets, are a crowd puller.
Foreigners from Europe enjoy our cultural music. On visiting the country, they attend our shows and provide a big market for traditional music instruments such as mbira and beating drums. Tourists learn how to play the instruments here and export them to their countries at the end of their visits.
At present we are based at the Harare Book Caf and sometimes play at the Test of Africa. Music is our source of life and we are living comfortably on it.
To sustain and take cultural music to greater heights, we intend to establish a culture music centre in Harare. The centre will manufacture traditional musical instruments and teach people how to play the music. We are currently approaching potential donors such as Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) for assistance.
Movement Band is made up of a youthful outfit determined to send cultural messages far and wide. Band members were groomed into refined artistes by mbira music masters such as Andy Brown, Chioniso Maraire, Ephert Mujuru, Dawn Gumbo, German based Stella Chiweshe and Thomas Maphumo now stationed in America.
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