In 1991 we played at CHOGM, the Commonwealth Heads of State conference. It was the best conference I have ever experienced in my life. We were eight mbira players. There was me, Gift Rushambwa, Donald Kudumba, Irene, Wiriranai Chigon’a, and Garadziva was also playing there. And the songs we played there were “Dangamvura” and “Shumba.”
The Chigamba family ensemble Mhembero performs “Dangamvura” on the album Pasi Mupindu
And Russ Landers was also one of the mbira players. When he came to Zimbabwe, he came to my house to learn mbira. We were playing those two songs with him, but he said, “Well, I’ve never performed at such a big thing like this.” I said, “Russ, you will be next to me. When you fall off, then I will protect you. I know how to.” So he said, “Okay, I will try.”
And we did, and the conference went well. And our performance was declared the best in the Commonwealth. The second best was Bangladesh, but we were the best. We were eight mbira players, one hosho player, eight girls with winnowing baskets, eight girls with clay pots, and eight women with flowers. So first, the winnowing baskets were lined up on the stage. Then the women came with flowers, and they put down the flowers. And then the girls with clay pots full of water came, and they put them in the middle of the flowers.
