KUTINYA Arts, a marimba school made up of former Dominican Convent and Prince Edward students, has embarked on marimba tutorials for students from different schools in and outside Harare.
Report by Nqobile Nkiwane Entertainment Reporter
Formed in 1999, Kutinya Arts was inspired by Nicholas Manomano, a key member of marimba players at his former school.
According to Manomano, their major goal is to have the marimba to be taken as a national instrument. “We want the marimba to be a national instrument in academics as much as we have the mbira as a national instrument in cultural terms,” he said.
Manomano said it was pivotal for Zimbabweans to change their perception of marimba.
“Marimba equips students with other skills outside the core curriculum like confidence, patience, self-esteem and spatio intelligence,” said Manomano.
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“Marimba is a way of defining one’s presence and also identifying with one’s culture.”
He said their project would also provide a platform for students to interact outside the classroom environment. Manamano said they had been successful in their academic approach to marimba as they were getting support and participation from many schools in and outside Harare.
Kutinya Arts is based in Borrowdale and is funded by Schweppes Zimbabwe and Scotia Holdings, among others.
The organisation hosts private gigs, concerts and also facilitates annual trips for students to places like Victoria Falls, Nyanga and other resort areas.