Music in the botanics - blue orca digital | Alan Taylor

Musical performance from the Zawose Family as they play at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Inverleith as part of the Edinburgh International Festival. Hukwe Zawose was a well known Tanzanian musician, born in 1938 living until 2003. He was a member of the Gogo ethnic group which played the ilimba, a large lamellophone much the same as a mbira. He was a very well respected singer too. The musicians seen here as the Zawose Family, a group of people who are large fans of Hukwe Zawose and of the Zawose Family music who are in Bagamoyo, Tanzania. The rest of the group are interested in music development in Africa. Currently, they began to build a Zawose Theatre in Bagamoyo Tanzania where up until now, there hasn't been any rehearsal spaces for the Zawoses to practice playing music and try out their dances. They are planning to make the building fit for multi purpose which means allowing other groups to use the space for rehearsals and performances. The group has recently played at the Edinburgh Festival in the Botanical Gardens as well as the Rainforest World Music Festival of 2009. There very popular and there is some demand for them in Los Angeles. They have also released a CD, a documentary film and a string of UK dates. Hukwe Zawose was a world star, signing on with Peter Gabriel at Real World Records. He toured Europe, America and Japan playing music where ever he went along with his family. He was mostly known for his stage costumes and unique voice. His family grew dramatically, where he had 7 wives and over 40 children. Sadly, he fell victim to Aids in 2002, dying at age 65 in 2003. The family found this hard as they had to source other types of income with the departure of their loved family member where his music was no longer their main income source. The Documentary film was Directed by John Simpson, first meeting them in 2002, who then produced their WOMAD show to tell their story. The documentary premiered in London where it gave a unique insight into how the family lived. Music is still a main feature of the family where women have an equal share in playing the instruments. Their great teamwork and spirit has helped them cope with the bad times and their passion is revealed in all of their performances. Their new music CD is called The Zawose Family CD. They have another CD too called Small Things Fall from the Baobob Tree which was produced by Real World Records. What's amazing about the group's instruments is that they're all handmade. Another of their concerts took place at the St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace. Here some the track listings for some of the albums: Hukwe Zawose Bagamoyo -- Masikitko, Dunian/ Africa Tanzania, Wima Wa Mapenzi, Furuti, Izeze, Mganda, Llimba, Chilimba, Izeze and Zawose Talks. Mateso Album -- Tanzania Yetu, Sisi Vijana, Nhongolo Mduwo/ Mbijili, Ulele Mwana Lelo Zaine, Chisanga, Mateso, Lukunzi, Tumuunge Mikono, Mateso. The Zawose Family Album -- Nhanga Msakuzi (Feeding Guinea Fowl), Haya Iye Ng'Ombe (This is a Cow), Notendachi (What Shall I do?), Ndaga Mgonile (Good Morning), Dunia Hii (This World), Ngandu Gwe, Find my Cow, Tufurahiye Mziki Wetu (Let Us Enjoy Our Music). The Zawose Family comes from the United Republic of Tanzania. It is a country in East Africa bordering Kenya and Uganda to the North. To the West lies Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. To the South lies Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean. Tanzania is a state made up of 26 regions known in Africa as Mikoa which includes those in the region of Zanzibar. The capital of Tanzania has been Dodoma where it's Parliament and some government offices are located. The main coastal City of Dar es Salaam served as the country's political capital. It is the main seaport for the country and other landlocked neighbouring countries. The name, Tanzania arrives from the two states, Tanganyika and Zanzibar where in 1964 it became known as the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.