Othnell Moyo launches book on township rhythms!
Music According to Percussion (MAP), led by Othnell Mangoma Moyo, hosted a 3-day drumming workshop at Music Crossroads Academy Zimbabwe from 21 to 23 August. This workshop was part of a double drummers camp hosted and facilitated by MAP in Harare and Bulawayo. The camps’ theme was ’Introduction to Township Ngoma/Ingungu’ and participants got to learn about the origins, rhythms, songs and dances from the different tribes scattered throughout the country.
The workshop was a prelude to the launch of Othnell Moyo’s book entitled Zimbabwe‘Zimbabwe Ngoma Rhythms and Songs; Bulawayo township Rhythms & Songs 1995-2010’, a book that acquaints the reader with the everyday lives and struggles of drummers from high density suburbs and the music that sh+aped them. As a bonus, the book also includes staff notation of the rhythms and melodies that were passed from one generation to another, some of which are still being played to date.
“The idea to do this, struck when I had the privilege to study music transcription with drummer and percussionist, Dietrich Wöhrlin, when I was a student at Music Crossroads. Launching the book is the beginning of a journey to safe guard our rhythms and songs, through written documents. A journey, that will see us, as artists, contributing to the preservation of our heritage.”
There was an overwhelming response from both the Music Crossroads students and fellow artists from Afrikera Dance Trust, and some participants from as far as Gweru. The sessions were 4 hours long with refreshment breaks in-between and covered 3 rhythms, dance and songs; each rhythm having 3 fills and 3 variations. The workshop attracted close to 45 participants, with 60% of them being female and 4, under the age of 12.
Special thanks and credits to Mgcini Nyoni Photography
