Chinyan’anya
Chartwell Dutiro, arr. Rima Fand
Bukatiende
Chartwell Dutiro, arr. Rima Fand
Through our oboist Matt Sullivan’s friendship with NY mbira player Nora Balaban, we met Chartwell Dutiro and had the privilege of performing his works with him on concerts at White Box, Broome Street, Manhattan on September 16, 2016
and at National Sawdust, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, May 29, 2016.
Chartwell Dutiro (1957-2019) grew up in Zimbabwe and started playing mbira at the age of four. From his village childhood in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) when he played at ceremonies with a local spirit medium, to his years performing and recording with Zimbabwe’s iconic Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited, to his more recent career as a teacher, solo artist, and bandleader in the UK, Chartwell cut a remarkable path through African music as a superb instrumentalist and a soulful singer. His arrangements of Shona traditional music are both innovative and inspirational. He was also a gifted storyteller with a deep sense of history and a wry sense of humor. Since 1994, Chartwell was based in Britain, performing, recording, teaching, and building bridges through his music. Chartwell taught Mbira, dance, percussion and singing in community and school settings nationally and internationally. Please visit Chartwell’s website at: