- Conservation through Art, Education and Science -

 

 




INVITES  YOU TO  AN AFRICAN BUSH DINNER

Proceeds for this event will benefit our SCHOLARSHIP FUND  
which has to date assisted over 150 students in Zimbabwe  to continue and complete their  education ;
to assist with the conservation education program of
INGONYAMA DANCE AND DRAMA TROUPE
and support our operations in Zimbabwe

Savor the sounds, and sights and tastes of the continent

February 23, 2008
Marrion Zimmer Auditorium in
Education Center at the Oakland Zoo
9777 Golf Links Road
Donation of  $75     Table for 6 -$450
 
5:30 – 6:30 wine bar and viewing of auction items
            Music by:  Kuzanga Marimba Band
6:30 – 7:30 Buffet
7:30 – 7:45 Presentation by Director Wendy Blakeley
7:45- 8:30 complete auction of crafts; door prize drawing

    

February 9 Deadline for RESERVATIONS AND PAYMENT.

Print a Reservation Form

Kuzanga Marimba Band

Whenever Kuzanga Marimba plays in public, a crowd gathers, enticed by the irresistible rhythm and unusual sound. People invariably start moving to the beat, some dancing unabashedly. Groups linger through a few songs, happily drop dollars in the tip gourd with words of appreciation, and move on with a smile and a lightened step, replaced by others who simply must stay awhile. Even 3-year-olds have been seen bobbing to the compelling beat of the marimbas. If it's break time, the band gets asked a lot of questions. This unique entertainment -- the music and instruments of Zimbabwe -- fascinates people, many of whom had no idea what a marimba is. And those remarkable gourd rattles! How do the hosho players shake that complex rhythm that's so different from Western culture?

Kuzanga's polyrhythmic music is drawn from the Shona people of Zimbabwe, with each song telling a story. Their repertoire includes marimba arrangements based on traditional vocal and mbira music, as well as contemporary pieces composed specifically for marimba. (An mbira is a hand-held wooden instrument with metal keys.) In the Shona culture, this celebratory music is played at social celebrations and ceremonies.

Band members play seven marimbas (wooden xylophones) -- sopranos, tenors, baritone and bass -- in Zimbabwean harmony, driven by a pair of hosho (gourd rattles) that masterfully lead the interlocking melodies of the rhythm.

Kuzanga Marimba has been playing their polyrhythmic, high-spirited music since 1994 for diverse groups throughout California and the Pacific Northwest.

Listen to samples of Kuzanga Marimba tunes on our web site, www.kuzanga.com.

 

Mission

It is the goal of AFRICA MATTERS to promote wildlife conservation by encouraging the interaction of artists, teachers and scientists. We directly offer financial and logistical assistance to individuals and organizations whose work not only expands scientific knowledge from the field, but also makes that knowledge available to others, particularly young Africans. We believe that art and youth have a key role to play in the world of conservation. Therefore, the organizations and individuals whose work we support all have a facet of education and have the potential, the imagination and the willingness to use art as valuable international language in the cause of conservation.

Our Three Ps Partners we work with, Projects we assist, and the Pathways we use and create, establish the intersection for these interactions.

Conservation is about the use of resources, and so Africa Matters first choice for problem solution, is to use existing resources. Every attempt is made to assure that solutions are both site-specific and still globally responsible. We believe there are all sorts of experts, and everyone needs to be heard. Problems are multi-faceted and so are the solutions.  

Some people are experts simply by virtue of their personal and historical experience and observation. They must speak and they must be heard. Some people are experts simply because they are innocents, and they must also be heard. 

It is the human ability to IMAGINE that is the seat of all hope and the children are the biggest resource of imagination in the world.  The pathway from imagination is creativity to express what we imagine. We label these expressions as ART.

Early in the history of Man and early in the life of each individual, the most basic reaction to our world has been expressive: a child hums, repeats a phrase, a series of movements,  shouts in joy or pain;  grows a bit and makes a drawing, a painting, a song, a poem, a dance, a sculpture, a play. In our modern world, technology has expanded the possibilities for these expressions ALMOST beyond our imaginings.  Africa Matters is here to encourage all that expression on their path to conservation.

The 21st Century brings ever-harder challenges to our stewardship of the planet as the normal  biological activity of the planet is no longer in balance with human impact; as the shear weight of increased human presence and use and abuse of resources tips the scales. We must take up the challenge of seeking more and better answers if we are to conserve wildlife, human life and all the systems that support it.

The ability to share all our expressions, be they artistic or scientific quickly and widely through technology, offers us ever more ways to meet the challenge.  AFRICA MATTERS hopes to be one place where these three intersect this ART, this EDUCATION, this SCIENCE.  We must love the land and her creatures first engage our hearts in this bond. Then we must study and share what we learn.  That sharing must not only be of information, but must contain the love. Sometimes it is the innocence of the amateur that sheds the most light. 

Photo Gallery

Students at Hwange National Park school: recyling trash for TOYS. 2003

 

Students learn wire craft. Dete, 2003

 

Painted Dog Conservation Rehab Facility: Illegal Snare wire from the bush. 2003

 

Artist Nxolisi Dhladhla with sculptures from snare wire. August 2003

 

Wendy Blakeley rehearsing with drama group Ingonyama. 2003

 

Picture frames made at the arts and crafts center. 2003

 

Lycaon Pictus: African Painted Hunting Dog

 

Zebras: Hwange National Park. 2002

 

Children's Bush Camp under construction near Hwange National Park, to open early 2004. 2003

 

Wendy Blakeley and drama group Ingonyama on the Victoria Falls Bridge in July of 2003 for a performance

 

BUSH BEAT BUGLE Vol. 7:
September 2007

Africa Matters News from Home and Abroad

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Detailed updates on previous news items

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What we're currently working on

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And what's planned for the coming year

Conservation through Dance and Drama
Conservation through Education
Support

Read the older Volumes

 

News and Events

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AN IMMEDIATE NEED: Get Involved. Click here


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For IMMEDIATE ACTION: Education: Sponsor a Student in Zimbabwe. How you can make direct impact by making a donation of school fees. Click here


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GREAT NEWS:  Africa Matters is now an approved 501c3 tax-exempt non-profit having received the IRS notification in November 2003.  All cash donations are now fully tax-exempt.  Additionally, this status is retroactive covering all of 2003; consequently, if you made a donation during the past year it also can be claimed on your taxes..after you check with your tax specialist. 

 
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Visit our new Photo Gallery page with crafts from Zimbabwe! Click here

 
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WILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK:  In October the Board and Friends staffed our table at the WCN EXPO held at Foothill College. This was a great event (visit their website at www.wildnet.org).  Besides making great contacts and friends, we sold crafts that were made at the Painted Dog Conservation's new Arts and Crafts program, that Director Wendy Blakeleys set up in Zimbabwe this year; see Bush Beat Bugle for more details.   The Expo offered a great of scientists and exhibitors, from around the world.  We highly recommend you mark your calendars for next October. We will certainly be there again.

 
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KENYA: Computers have arrived! (click here for details and update)

 
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APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE from Africa Matters are now possible (Click here). If you are doing work in conservation and could use assistance, please see the application and/or contact us.  It is advised you submit the application form via email.

 
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SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Roberta Steele who assisted at the "Wildlife Conservation Network" expo table

and Joe Holstein.

 
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See new photos in our gallery

 
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Be sure to see how you can help!

         
 

Contact: info@africamatters.org All photos by Wendy Blakeley
Webmaster: Leonard Young
Last Uupdated Sep 28, 2007