CHIBITE

CHIBITE is a Zawose family affair, comprised of many relatives who are steeped in traditional music. They are the musical and rhythmic heirs to the late, great Tanzanian musician, Hukwe Zawose, whose CD was released on the REAL WORLD Record. Their musical dialect is the tribal folk music of the Dodoma region in Tanzania. Their instruments include the limba—a wooden box topped by thin strips of metal of various lengths that are plucked to make a tune—and the stringed zeze. Right now, CHIBITE is at the peak of their musical careers. They have played many concerts abroad, in Europe and Japan.

Hukwe Zawose himself was born in the Dodoma suburb of landlocked Tanzania. He was a musician of Gogo and his music so impressed Julius Nyerere, the first president of Tanzania, that he summoned Hukwe to Dar es Salaam and made him a member of the National Opera Troupe. From there his influence spread. He became a professor at the Bagamoyo College of Arts in Bagamoyo, 60km away from Dar es Salaam and became the mentor to many musicians. His music even caught the ear of Peter Gabriel, who collaborated with him.

This music was recorded at the outdoor studio in Bagamoyo, on the east coast of Tanzania where Chibite lives. More than 20 family members reside in three houses, each discrete in style, in that tranquil country town. Set amidst the houses is a cottage where the group manufactures their own musical instruments. They make use of traditional African woods and gourds as well as a variety of found objects, such as automotive parts. This is an earth-friendly approach that allows them to turn what might otherwise be waste materials into instruments of amazing music.

CHIBITE Music World --- Splendid Background

　　　　 Tabu　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Lucas

The shade of a mango tree behind their houses is the spot where the members of Chibite most like to practice. They are devoted to music. Sitting out there in their handmade chairs, some members start exercising before the sun rises. Around them, as the day wears on, old woman sweep and children play in the garden. It’s usual for the children to sing and dance in their everyday lives, so it seems natural that they will learn the music too and that one day some of them will follow in the footsteps of their relatives and of the great Hukwe Zawose. In the peaceful countryside, in the sun-dappled shade of the mango tree, the music and the pure enjoyment are being passed along from one generation to the next.

As more than 20 members attended the recording this time, their performance was very powerful. The composition of each tune is varied. Many kinds of musical instruments are used, such as the ilimba, which is called thumb piano, izeze, various kinds of drums, xylophone, kayamba, and more. Some tunes consist only of voices and some tunes are performed as pipe solos by using steel pipe. This album is composed of simple instrumental solos, vocal solos and dynamic orchestra—such a variety that you could never tire of it.

Come enter the CHIBITE world!

Recording