Solstix's Teachers
Solstix has been performing for 2 years and with several different members. We have been honored to learn from many guests who have taught us songs and technique, including: Sandy Ockenden, Dean Samuel, Garadziva Chigamba, Charles Mzite, Ona Connon, Sydney Maratu, Ted Wright, Farai Gezi, and others...
Sandy Ockenden
Sandy is a founding member of the ensemble Muzuva in Victoria,BC. He played a major role in getting our group started, by patiently teaching us many aspects of Zimbabwean music, including a great deal of technique and songs. He also helped build our instuments. He taught many in the community, but now is teaching in the Kootenays.
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Garadziva began playing mbira at age six, self-taught and with help from his father, master mbira player Tute Chigamba. Now 28, Garadziva is an accomplished mbira player, dancer, marimba player, and drummer. He is a member and co-founder of the Mhembero Dance Troupe, a traditional dance company in Zimbabwe, and member and founder of the marimba ensemble Kushinga, and now Nyenyedzi. He has performed and taught in China, Japan, Canada, the U.S., Malaysia, Libya, and Zambia. He taught Solstix a great new version of Taireva on marimba.
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Charles Mzite
Charles has spent a great deal of time in Victoria, demonstrating his traditional dance moves and passing some along to us, as well as some drum beats. Charles is a long time member of Mhembero Dance Troupe in Zimbabwe and is a phenominal dance instuctor. He has taught traditional dance in the most popular modern dance company in Victoria. He has been performing with Victoria's Muzuva and Nyenyedzi Ensemble.
Ona Connon
Ona is one of the founding members of the ensemble Muzuva in Victoria BC. For many people, she has been a great role model for learning the hosho .
Sydney Maratu
Sydney is a musician and teacher who lives with his family in Harare, Zimbabwe. In 2001, he visited British Columbia and demonstrated his mbira and marimba ability. Sydney began playing mbira at age six and marimba at age twelve. He has performed with many musicians including Ephat Mujuru and Sekuru Gora. He has taught mbira, marimba, drums, and hosho at the Zimbabwe College of Music and was involved with the formation of the Department of Ethnomusicology. He has also worked with British, French, and Zimbabwean film makers. In 1996, and again in 2001, Sydney traveled to Canada to share his music with the growing Zimbabwean music community.
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Ted is another founding member of the ensemble Muzuva in Victoria BC. He is an accomplished musician playing a wide variety of instruments including marimba, mbira, drum kit and Chipendani. He taught our group a great deal of technique and songs.
Dean Samuel
Dean is a founding member of the ensemble Muzuva in Victoria, BC. He is a fine wood craftsman and composer of original compositions, as well as a player of many instruments.
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Farai Gezi
Farai Gezi is a graduate of the Kwanongoma College of African Music and has taught both African and European music for 19 years. He is currently a music teacher at Groombridge School and at the German School in Harare. He runs a backyard marimba workshop which is very popular with visiting marimba players. He also runs the Harare Marimba Ensemble. He has many years’ experience in teaching both children and adults. Uncle Farai teaches the building and playing of marimbas, nyunga nyunga mbira, and helps new marimba groups as they form. He also plays guitar, flute, and ngoma (drum).
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