News From The Tonga Concert 2013
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CHIKUNI RADIO TONGA ANNUAL MUSIC FESTIVAL (Since 2000)
6 and 7 September, 2013 Chikuni Community Radio Station proudly announces succesful hosting of the 13th Tonga Music Festival on 6th and 7th September 2013.97 bands have this year show their talent in various categories of Tonga Traditional music at the main arena at Chikuni Community Radio Station.The Tonga Music Festival is held at Chikuni Radio Concert Arena 34km southeast of Monze, Southern Province.The concert was initiated for the purpose of reviving, promoting and preserving Tonga traditional music and dance. Over the past 12 years, the music festival has grown, attracting many traditional bands as well as corporate institutions and business houses who contribute to the successful hosting of this important event in the country.For many years now, 12 categories of traditional music have been exhibited as set out by the organizing team of the Festival. But over the years more truly traditional and almost extinct music style have come up and are being revived owing to the value the people have placed in the festival. For Chikuni Radio, it is a sign of ownership and the people have come to appreciate the role of the Radio Station in bringing back a way of life that adds value to the people’s daily living. Musicians no longer just come to perform, but are trained on the cultural and musical values of the Tonga as well as general lifestyle. This is has led to improved performances and deliveries from the participating groups. The Sakala Brothers and Mukanzubo Kalinda Research Institute have helped in the training which has raised the standards of the Festival. Over the years, there are groups which have been categorized as "Mature" and they no longer compete but provide entertainment to the concert revelers during the two day event. We have groups like Mashombe Blue Jeans, Green Mamba and Gonde Cultural Ensemble. Chikuni Radio managed to present this year more than ever showcase of authentic traditional Tonga music. The Traditional Tonga Music Festival! The greatest tragedy for Tonga culture is the fact that there is no proper custodian for it where all the young could look up to. As evidenced in the last three years, the young are now beginning to learn and appreciate the Tonga culture. A fifteen-year-old boy scooped first prize in the Kuyabila category, which is mainly performed by elderly people. The boy also went further to represent the country under the Music Crossroads Southern Africa in Malawi. Every culture in the world has a musical tradition, and nature and environment is an intrinsic part of it. While music exists in every human society, its meaning and place is culturally determined and the function of music also differs from culture to culture. Differences in techniques, instruments, languages, form, and again, environment have yielded a wealth of musical styles. If a culture is to remain the driving force of any kind of society, something has to be done to safeguard against its erosion by foreign cultures or just simple "loss of memory". Music is often an important component of religion, ritual, celebration, work, play, and politics. It can also help to create and reinforce boundaries of community and identity, and serves as a means to social expression that gives rise to emotions, to memories, and to pleasures. This concert explores the power of music to transform our lives. Music provides a link with the past. It both preserves culture and helps to establish and maintain identity based on historical accounts and records. Through the performance of music, memory of heritage and culture are celebrated in ways that relate vitally to the present. The Radio Chikuni Concert examines music as a continuum - reconstructed and modified but, connective between the past and present. The Challenges for The 13th Music Festival From the humble beginnings of a one meter stage to a properly and permanent structured stage, the Tonga Music Festival has seen an overwhelming increase in both participants and spectators. People that have come to appreciate and witness the great Tonga music have increased from mere hundreds to more than 10,000 this year. Winners at the 13th Tonga Music Festival held on 6th and 7th September
KALINDULA
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“Mapondo Atemwa Mwaasyuuka”
We have done it again! We are grateful to PowerSoft for their donation of DIGAM 7000 amps and their back-up service. www.powersoft-audio.com/en/ Our thanks goes to Mayah for providing recorders, transmission codes and much more !!!! for many years. www.mayah.com/ Wireless microphones were donated by Sennheiser. Thank you very much! http://en-de.sennheiser.com/ Winners List KALINDULA
KALUMBA
CIYAYAALE
CHIKAAMBE – KAAMBE
CHIGOME
BUKONKOOLO
MASABE
SEESA
CHILIMBA
KANKOBELA
KUTWA
KUYABILA
MAGUITOR
SPECIAL PRIZES
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