Dumisani Maraire
Encyclopedia
Abraham Dumisani Maraire (1944-November 25, 1999), known to friends as "Dumi," was a master performer of the mbira
, a traditional instrument of the Shona
ethnic group
of Zimbabwe
. He specialized in the form of mbira called nyunga nyunga, as well as the Zimbabwean marimba. He introduced Zimbabwean music to North America, initiating a flourishing of Zimbabwean music in the Pacific Northwest
that continues to spread in the 21st century.
Maraire was born in Mutare
, Rhodesia
(now Zimbabwe). He began learning music from family members, and later at the college of music in Bulawayo
. Maraire taught from 1968 through 1972 at the University of Washington
in Seattle, where his daughter Chiwoniso Maraire
(also a musician) was born. He remained in the region throughout until 1982, teaching at The Evergreen State College
in Olympia, Washington
, giving private music lessons, performing in Pacific Northwest cities and in British Columbia
with several marimba groups he founded.
Maraire returned to Zimbabwe in 1982 to develop an ethnomusicology
program at the University of Zimbabwe
. Four years later, he was back in Seattle, teaching and earning his own doctorate in ethnomusicology at the University of Washington, after which he returned again to teach at the University of Zimbabwe.
Dumi is credited for his famous 1-15 number notation used on the nyunga nyunga mbira and for notating the song "Chemutengure" on the nyunga nyunga mbira. The song "Chemutengure" is used to teach mbira learners the technique of playing the instrument.(Chirimumimba,2007).
Maraire died of a stroke on November 25, 1999 in Zimbabwe.
Mbira
In African music, the mbira is a musical instrument that consists of a wooden board to which staggered metal keys have been attached. It is often fitted into a resonator...
, a traditional instrument of the Shona
Shona people
Shona is the name collectively given to two groups of people in the east and southwest of Zimbabwe, north eastern Botswana and southern Mozambique.-Shona Regional Classification:...
ethnic group
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. He specialized in the form of mbira called nyunga nyunga, as well as the Zimbabwean marimba. He introduced Zimbabwean music to North America, initiating a flourishing of Zimbabwean music in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
that continues to spread in the 21st century.
Maraire was born in Mutare
Mutare
Mutare is the fourth largest city in Zimbabwe, with a population of around 170,000. It is the capital of Manicaland province.-History:...
, Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
(now Zimbabwe). He began learning music from family members, and later at the college of music in Bulawayo
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
. Maraire taught from 1968 through 1972 at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in Seattle, where his daughter Chiwoniso Maraire
Chiwoniso Maraire
Chiwoniso Maraire is an accomplished singer, songwriter, and exponent of Zimbabwean mbira music. She is the daughter of famed mbira master Dumisani Maraire....
(also a musician) was born. He remained in the region throughout until 1982, teaching at The Evergreen State College
The Evergreen State College
The Evergreen State College is an accredited public liberal arts college and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. It is located in Olympia, Washington, USA. Founded in 1967, Evergreen was formed to be an experimental and non-traditional college...
in Olympia, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
, giving private music lessons, performing in Pacific Northwest cities and in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
with several marimba groups he founded.
Maraire returned to Zimbabwe in 1982 to develop an ethnomusicology
Ethnomusicology
Ethnomusicology is defined as "the study of social and cultural aspects of music and dance in local and global contexts."Coined by the musician Jaap Kunst from the Greek words ἔθνος ethnos and μουσική mousike , it is often considered the anthropology or ethnography of music...
program at the University of Zimbabwe
University of Zimbabwe
The University of Zimbabwe in Harare, is the oldest and largest university in Zimbabwe. It was founded through a special relationship with the University of London and it opened its doors to its first students in 1952. The university has ten faculties offering a wide variety of degree programmes...
. Four years later, he was back in Seattle, teaching and earning his own doctorate in ethnomusicology at the University of Washington, after which he returned again to teach at the University of Zimbabwe.
Dumi is credited for his famous 1-15 number notation used on the nyunga nyunga mbira and for notating the song "Chemutengure" on the nyunga nyunga mbira. The song "Chemutengure" is used to teach mbira learners the technique of playing the instrument.(Chirimumimba,2007).
Maraire died of a stroke on November 25, 1999 in Zimbabwe.
Discography
- Mbira Music of Rhodesia, Performed by Abram Dumisani Maraire. (1972). Seattle: University of Washington Press, Ethnic Music Series. Garfias, R. (Ed.). 1 LP disc. 33 1/3 rpm. mono. 12 in. UWP-1001. This disc features Maraire exclusively on Nyunga Nyunga mbira. A 12-page booklet by Maraire is included, describing the background, composition, and performance of nyunga-nyunga mbira music.
- Shona Spirit. (1995). Dumisani Maraire & Ephat Mujuru. Music of the WorldMusic of the WorldMusic of the World was a World music record label active during the 1990s. Nomad-World Jazz and Latitudes were imprint labels.Albums released on the label are available to purchase through the New York City organization .-Artists:*BeauSoleil...
. ASIN: B000003IT0. Amazon.com - Pieces of Africa. (1992). Kronos Quartet. Nonesuch ASIN: B000005J15. Amazon.com
- Masters of the African Mbira. (2000). Ephat Mujuru & Dumisani Maraire. Arc Music, ASIN: B00003ZL43. Amazon.com
Publications
- Adzenyah, A.K., Tucker, J.C., & Maraire, D. (1997). Let your voice be heard! Songs from Ghana and Zimbabwe. World Music Press, ISBN 0-937203-75-0. Amazon.com