A TRIBUTE TO SIMON MASHOKO
This page is a tribute to Simon Mashoko Gwenyambira and was inspired by an installation with the same title in Harare by 3 visiting Austrian artists.
Exhibition/Installation at Gallery Delta, Harare 11th January 2002 by Werner Puntigam, Michael Pilz & Klaus Hollinetz (see webpages about their project)
See
photos of Mashoko by Werner Puntigam
The 3 images below by Paul Berliner are used with the author's permission
from his definative work "the Soul Of Mbira" (ISBN 0-520-04268-9)
These images give a sense of the spirit of Simon Mashoko. Paul Berliner
is preparing a separate publication with material about Simon Mashoko
from his research in Zimbabwe recently".
Some interesting links with musical examples and more information
Simon Mashoko photo P Berliner
Simon Mashoko is widely recognised
as one of the finest exponents of the
type of mbira known as njari, an instrument that is played in the Masvingo
region. Unlike other mbira players, Mashoko did not learn through dreams,
but dreams did play an important part in shaping his career. Around 1938,
he
had two amazing dreams. in the first, he heard a voice in the middle of
the
night, calling him. He went to the door and saw a man in a long white
robe
with two lions next to him. In the second dream, three men with wings
appeared outside the house. Both dreams were haunted by beautiful, music,
which Mashoko heard as mbira music.
Mashoko later met Christian teachers who told him that the figure from
his
dream was Jesus. This explanation had a graet effect on Mashoko and he
joined the Catholic Church in Gweru. He composed many Shona settings of
gospel music and as the restrictions on the use of African music in the
church were loosened, he was encouraged to play mbira in church. Mashoko
produced several records and his reputation spread, in particular through
the then African Radio Service. Mashoko has dedicated his life to serving
the church. Now retired, he lives at Beardmore Mine with his wife and
children.
Although in his mid 80's Mashoko still plays mbira every morning and the
magic of his performance has never diminished.
Njari. Photo P Berliner
Simon Mashoko Photo P. Berliner
SIMON MASHOKO GENERAL LINKS
Mbira references
http://www.nscottrobinson.com/mbirabib.htm
Mbiriviri
http://www2.kenyon.edu/projects/ottenhoff/simon.ra
Simon Mashoko, mbira (35-key nhari)
& voice. Recorded at Glen Cove, Masvingo.
http://www2.kenyon.edu/projects/ottenhoff/welcome.htm
Translation of the wordsof "Mbiriviri" on this sound clip
http://www.library.wisc.edu/libraries/Music/ereserves/anderson401/mbiri.htm
Soul of Mbira CD
http://www.dandemutande.org/Catalog/Music/VariousArtistsMbira.asp
"Mbira: Njari – Karanga
songs in Christian ceremonies with Simon Mashoko", 24min.
A Catholic catechist plays his traditional and Christian songs with mbira.
Mashoko played the njari, the third ritual mbira of the Shona, in traditional
religion until he became a Catholic, when he was eventually able to bring
it into the church, a big step in view of the attitude of many of the
missionary churches. Mashoko's work was instrumental in changing the church's
outlook on traditional music and instruments in church and a major inspiration
for the new church music of Zimbabwe.
Exhibition/Installation at Gallery Delta, Harare 11th January 2002 by Werner Puntigam, Michael Pilz & Klaus Hollinetz (see webpages about their project)