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Mbira Spirit is clear proof that two separate cultures can join forces and something phenomenal can be brought to life. Tafadzwa Matamba who is originally from Zimbabwe and Amy Matamba who from Canada are a super couple that have put Zimbabwean and Canadian culture on another level. The two are the founders of Mbira Spirit and Matamba Cultural Arts and Education Centres and they have been doing other philanthropic work to help the community.
Tafadzwa Matamba is a musician, an actor, a farmer, film producer, educator and a cultural leader who went to Canada to perform in 2012 visiting universities and attending community events sharing information about the Zimbabwean culture and music. Amy is also a musician, an actress, a farmer, a cultural ambassador, business woman and a film producer from Vancouver Island who studied traditional Zimbabwean music for some years then decided to visit Zimbabwe for a cultural tour which had been planned by Tafadzwa.
Amy decided to pay the beautiful gesture back with a Vancouver tour for Tafadzwa and this is how the dynamic duo came to be Mbira Spirit. During Amy’s studies she studied the shona language, traditional instruments like mbira, hosho drums and the Zimbabwean culture in general which made it easy for her to connect with Tafadzwa.
The duo has had many performances and they include the SunFest County Music Festival in Cowichan , 39 Days of July in Duncan , Duncan showroom, City of Victoria Musician’s Roster in Victoria , Coombes Bluegrass Festival in Coombes and the Honeymoon Bay Days in Honeymoon Bay and many other events where they sang their original songs and other songs. The duo also perform as a band at times just to add more life to the music.
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Their music comes in many genres which include gospel, reggae, county classics and the music performances are escorted by amazing dance moves much to the enjoyment of their fans. They have performed songs like I Saw The light, Kwayedza Mumwoyo Mangu, Zvanza Mwoyo, Jonah, Maidei Nyarara , Anouya, Once More and many other for over a decade now. They are also writers and Tafadzwa has written a book tilted ‘Rainbow Skies and Pies that Fly‘ which has poems and amazing stories of Zimbabwe and Vancouver whilst Amy wrote a cook book titled “Pie That Flies Kitchen Hits” full of mouthwatering recipes.
The Matamba duo has cultural arts centres in Vancouver and the Magunje area in Zimbabwe where people are taught to play traditional instruments, dance and those with singing talents showcase their talents in a series of shows that they host like the Matamba Fest. They also help Zimbabwean and Canadian artists come together in cultural exchange programs and educational events.
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Aside from music the duo has a sweet spot in Vancouver island and its called Little Zimbabwe where they do farming, growing sunflowers, turnips, pumpkins, garlic, Kale and other vegetables that are mainly found in Zimbabwe. They make delicious pies and have a bed and breakfast place as well as a gallery at that same place which makes them true entrepreneurs who are pushing for the Zimbabwean culture to be celebrated across the globe.
The couple have been working really hard to bring good music to the Canadian crowds and the Zimbabwean crowd and have spreading love as well as changing the lives of many wherever they go through the children and young people they work with at their Cultural and Educational centres. They can be found on Facebook as Mbira Spirit and have separate accounts as Amy Matamba as well as Tafadzwa Matamba.
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