On a return visit to the Nether Edge Festival at St Andrews Psalter Lane Church, TalkingGigs hosted Tanga Pasi Trio for an evening of high interest and entertainment, exploring the musical roots of Zimbabwe. Once again this was a sold-out event and the church filled with eager music lovers.

 

Tanga Pasi Trio consist of three brothers who originate from South Western Zimbabwe. We discovered that their roots are with the Kalanga people of Bantu heritage, as opposed to the Shona influence often associated with Zimbabwean music.  

 

Lucky, Kenny and Sinini, resplendent in traditional head-dress, described the origin of their love for music.  There was an interesting juxtaposition between the traditional culture of song and dance embedded with ancestral rituals, such as the responsibility for rain-dances, alongside the gospel influence of the church.  But perhaps the most telling connection was that just one word in their language describes the combined art of music, song and dance. These three actions are considered inseparable and, with a fun and light touch to audience participation, Tanga Pasi Trio set out to prove that we could engage fully with that concept!

 

In a change of costume, Tanga Pasi Trio launched the second half of the evening with Wimoweh & The Lion Sleeps Tonight.  This was first recorded in 1939 by Solomon Linda in the Zulu language where “Mbube” (pronounced EEM-boo-beh) is Zulu for ‘lion'.  Encouraged to “move” by the band, the audience swayed their arms like savanna grass before a monsoon - perhaps a ‘first’ for a TalkingGigs audience?

 

We heard a variety of traditional songs and arrangements and, in the illuminating pool of light, we were transported from the cool stone structure of the church to the shade of a Flame Tree, red earth and rural Zimbabwe.  Had it not been for the limits of the seating plan, a large portion of the  audience would have been on their feet and dancing.   Indeed, when Sinini and his brothers left the stage to demonstrate what traditional dancing demanded of us, energy levels rose even further and we were treated to a lively, acrobatic and thoroughly engaging performance.

 

A rendition of 'Happy Birthday to You' (Tanga Pasi style) for a member of the audience was a treat on so many levels. “How do you move when you sing this song?” we were asked.  We laughed, embarrassed, but soon engaged in the actions that expressed the words.  The harmonies from the three brothers were divine and the Gospel influence shone through.

 

This diverse and thoroughly enjoyable event closed with another of Tanga Pasi Trio’s founding influences – Bob Marley and ‘One Love’. 

 

This event was so well suited to its venue and the audience left feeling inspired and uplifted.

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Review by Olivia Cox