Harare is one of the few groups to be playing Zimbabwean dance music in Europe. Formed by musicians from the heart of Zimbabwean urban music; Harare combines different styles from Jit Jive to traditional hypnotic rhythms of the mbira (lamellaphone/thumb piano) which reflect the different backgrounds of the people who make up the group. Harare music is also heavily influenced by chimurenga, the genre developed by music guru, Thomas Mapfumo.
Led by highly energetic Kudaushe Matimba, Harare have the style, momentum & experience to show there is a promising future ahead for Zimbabwean based dance music and for their exciting new songs & arrangements.
Formerly a keyboard player with the Bhundu boys, founding member Kudaushe (marimba, keys & vocals) has also worked with some of the highly rated Zimbabwean musicians such as Chartwell Dutiro, Stella Chiweshe, Chiwoniso Maraire, Prince Tendai, Beular Djoko, Jonah Sithole (RIP) & many more.
Bhundu boys were a groundbreaking force in the African music industry, as they paved the way for more artists to reach commercial success in Europe and the US. Harare's music is about social awareness, life yesterday, today and tomorrow; it expresses emotions such as pain, love, wisdom and rage. It is all about advice, respect, love for one another and compassion. Words to their songs are performed in Shona language of Zimbabwe. Kudaushe brings both old and new compositions and arrangements to the Harare set. Some of the songs are traditional ones from Zimbabwe, based on the traditional instrument, the mbira. Kudaushe strongly believes in the importance of preserving one's heritage through music.
Our past activities include London Sanctuary Festival, 2007 Rise Festival (African village stage), Shambala Festival, Off The Tracks Festival, Southport International Street Festival, Mayor of London Festival, Territorios Sevilla 2008, Gateway International Festival, ZimFest London 09, Pontardawe Festival, Luton Summer Festival, Secousse London, Barnsley Black History Celebrations, Cambridge St Pauls, Hootananny London, Hull Gig In the Park, 2010 Malamu Music Club, PawPaw Jam, Recyclart Brussels, World City Music Village, Howden Live & many more.
Harare are also available as an acoustic set as well as suitable for a wide range of occasions & venues from theatres, Arts centres, clubs as well as Corporate entertainment events. Workshops & sessions are also offered to groups of all ages from primary school children to senior citizens. See tamarts.co.uk
Mbira and marimba lessons are also available.
Our CD 'Tatopera' is available to buy/order from sternsmusic.com/disk_info/HM001CD
MP3 DOWNLOADS
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2010
16 September...Park Lane, London
4 July...Horniman Museum, London
3 July...Victoria Park, Hackney, London
20 June...V & A Museum, London
29 May...The Rest is Noise, London
30 April...The New Empowering Church, London
2nd April...Secousse, Notting Hill Arts Club, London
14th March...Hootananny Brixton, London
29 January...Green Note, London (Kudaushe)
8th January...Passing Clouds, London
2009
19th December...The New Empowering Church, London
18th December...Commonwealth Club, London
12th December...Penelopes Club, Sheffield
9th December...Hilton Hotel London Bridge, London
26th November...Korzo Theater, Den Haag NL (Kudaushe)
22nd November...KIT, Amsterdam NL (Kudaushe)
21st November...RASA, Utrecht NL (Kudaushe)
20th November...Rotterdam NL (Kudaushe)
18th November...Oosterpoort, Groningen NL (Kudaushe)
13th November..WOMAD Spain, Las Palmas (Kudaushe)
20th October...The Tabernacle, Powis Square, London
8th October ...Momo Kemia Bar, London W1B 4BH
3rd October...Love Zimbabwe, St David's Hall, Cardiff, Wales, 12pm - 1pm
5th September...ZimFest, Prince Georges Playing Fields, London
22nd August…Pontadawe Festival, Wales
14th August...St Georges Square, Luton
6th July - 9th August...Kudaushe Matimba - Euro tour with Chiwoniso Maraire
14th June...Victoria and Albert Museum, London (Kudaushe Matimba)
23rd May…Off The Tracks Festival, Donnington, Derbyshire
22nd May…Selby Town Hall, Selby, North Yorkshire
2nd May…Lincoln Drill Hall, Lincoln
3rd April…Brussels, Belgium (Kudaushe Matimba/Chiwoniso Maraire)
2nd April…Brussels, Belgium (Kudaushe Matimba/Chiwoniso Maraire)
31st March…Amsterdam, Netherlands (Kudaushe Matimba/Chiwoniso Maraire)
14th March…The Shire Hall, Howden, East Yorkshire
6th March…Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, Cumbria
3rd March…Music Freedom Day, Concert Hall, Stockholm, Sweden ( Kudaushe Matimba/Chiwoniso Maraire)
2008
12th December 11:45pm - 1am…Passing Clouds, Dalston, London
12th December 9:30pm - 10:45pm…SOAS, Russell Square, London
28th November…The New Wolsey Theatre, Civic Drive, Ipswich, Suffolk
8th November…Brussels, Belgium (Matimba solo)
7th November…Le Zebre, Paris, France (Matimba/Chiwoniso Maraire)
6th November…Melkweg, Amsterdam (Matimba/Chiwoniso Maraire)
4th November…Momo, London (Matimba/Chiwoniso Maraire)
1st November… Herdecke, Germany (Matimba/Chiwoniso Maraire)
30th October…Afrique Melody, Lucorum, Barnsley, South Yorkshire
9th October…The New Art Gallery, Walsall, West Midlands
30th August…ZimFest, Prince Georges Playing Fields, Raynes Park, London
2nd August…Riverside Festival, Victoria Embankment, Nottingham
31st July…Battersea Barge, Tideway Walk, Nine Elms Lane, London
30th July…Favela Chic, 91 - 93 Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch, London
13th July…The Music Village Festival, Hyde Park, London
11th July…Secousse, Notting Hill Arts Club, Notting Hill Gate, London
22nd June…Solo mbira, NNLS, London
21st June…Gig in the Park, Queens Gardens, Hull
17 - 20 June…ZimbaMarimba Summer Camp, Varberg, Sweden
14th June…The Gate Theatre, Dunhill Road, Goole
29th May…Project Zimbabwe, Walkabout, London
23rd May…Territorios Sevilla, Spain
23rd February…Greenwich, London
7th February…MAC, Birmingham. Africa Acoustic Duo featuring Kudaushe Matimba & Kadialy Kouyate
11th January…Secousse, Notting Hill Arts Club, 12 Notting Hill Gate, London
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FRIENDS OF HARARE
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