The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
Young people are increasingly taking an active interest in traditional music and cultural activities, a seasoned traditional musician has said.
Tafadzwa Goredema, a mbira music maestro who also teaches aspiring musicians how to play the traditional music instrument, said he has noted an increase in the number of youths that are showing an interest in traditional music.
Goredema, who is a session mbira player with Mbira DzeNharira and Mawungira eNharira, said he has also noted an increase in the number of young people who are attending such cultural functions as biras.
“Of late, I observed that the number of young people that are taking an active interest in traditional music, particularly mbira, are increasing. The number of enquiries from youngsters that are eager to learn how to play the mbira are increasing.”
“Also, before the lockdown restrictions, I also observed that the number of young people who were attending the cultural events where we were performing was increasing. In the past, the majority of the people that were attending such events were the elderly,” Goredema said.
Goredema, who was part of the group that recorded the hit song “Zviri nane ndiende Kure,” which was written and sung by rising mbira musician Joyce Warikandwa, attributed this change in perception by the youth to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Before the advent of the coronavirus most people looked down upon almost anything that was related to the African traditional culture. In my view, I think the realisation that such traditional herbal remedies as Zumbani are helpful in the fight against Covid-19, changed many people’s perceptions regarding most traditional and cultural aspects,” the 31-year-old Goredema said.
