Office of University Communications

Zimbabwean Music Festival at WWU Aug. 12-14
Contact(s):	Marie Eaton, (360) 650-3140 Marie.Eaton@wwu.edu	7/29/2005

BELLINGHAM – The 14th annual Zimbabwean Music Festival will be held from Friday, Aug. 12 through Sunday, Aug. 14 at Western Washington University.

The event, also known as Zimfest, will bring together an international community of teachers, students, performers and fans of Zimbabwean music and dance at more than 100 workshops and during nearly 30 hours of concerts.

This year’s Zimfest theme, “Music Crossing Boundaries,” is meant to welcome groups from all over the world that love Zimbabwean music and to honor the Zimbabwean teachers. The theme highlights the idea that music is a powerful spiritual medium for uniting people of different countries, cultures, ages and backgrounds.

Several well-known and accomplished Zimbabwean musicians will teach and perform at Zimfest, including the Chigamba family, one of the most prestigious musical groups in Zimbabwe. Other notable musicians scheduled to teach and perform include: Cosmas Magaya, Beauler Dyoko, Fradreck and Fungai Mujuru, Lora Lue Chiorah-Dye and Sheasby Matiure.

A number of events are open to the public at the three-day event:

• Free afternoon concerts, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., will be held on the lawn south of Parks Hall and will feature seasoned musicians and youth groups. Blankets, lawn chairs and sun screen are suggested.
• Each evening, starting at 7 p.m, master musicians from Zimbabwe and other accomplished performers from North America will perform in a concert/dance series in the Multi-activity Court at the Wade King Student Recreation Center. Tickets for these performances are available in advance for $12 via the event Web site at www.zimfest.org or for $15 at the door. Tickets also will be available at Village Books, the Community Food Co-op, at the WWU Box Office at (360) 650-6146 and throughout the event at the festival registration desk at Fairhaven College.

More than 100 workshops on Zimbabwean culture, including hands-on instruction in music, dance and song, will be offered during Zimfest, primarily at Fairhaven College. Private lessons also will be available. Visit www.zimfest.org for more details.

A special track for school teachers, available for continuing education or college credits, includes the cultural and historic context of Zimbabwean instruments and how-to workshops on marimba, dance and choral tunes.

During the festival an outdoor market will be open for attendees to purchase goods made in Zimbabwe or representing the spirit and intent of Zimfest.

Zimfest has been an annual event since 1991, hosted at community centers and universities on the West Coast. This is the first year for the event at Western.

For more information, please visit www.zimfest.org, e-mail 2005@zimfest.org, or call 738-4336 for festival registration information and/or for updated information on price, location and time of public events.

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